Sunseri attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he played for the Pittsburgh Panthers football team from 1978 to 1981.[1] After beginning his career as a walk-on,[2] Sunseri was a three-year starter and anchored a defense that led the NCAA in total defense in both 1980 and 1981.[1] During his senior year, he was named a team captain and a consensus first-team All-American.
After graduating, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1982 NFL draft; however, he suffered a career ending knee injury during training camp[1][3] and was given an injury settlement and released from the team.
Coaching career
Between 1985 and 1992, Sunseri worked as a defensive line and linebacker's coach for his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh.[4] After Paul Hackett was fired as the team's head coach during Pittsburgh's 1992 season,[5] Sunseri was promoted as an interim head coach for the final game versus Hawaiʻi[6]—a 36–23 loss for the Panthers.[7]
After having previously worked as the defensive line coach for the NFL's Carolina Panthers for six seasons,[1] Sunseri returned to college football on January 21, 2009, when he was named as the outside linebackers coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.[8][9] Sunseri was a 2011 finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top college football assistant coach.
In December 2012, Sunseri accepted a job as a defensive assistant at Florida State University. Sunseri helped coach Florida State to the 2013 BCS National Championship.[10]
In January 2015, Sunseri accepted the position of linebackers coach with the Oakland Raiders.[11]
After one season serving as the Defensive line coach for the Florida Gators, Sunseri accepted an undisclosed position with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
^Wolff, Alexander (December 7, 1992). "Something For Nothing". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
^"Sunseri named interim coach at Pitt". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 28, 1992. p. C03.
