After just one season with the Washington Huskies, safeties coach Vinnie Sunseri is leaving for a new position. On Thursday morning, he was announced as the next defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
“Vinnie is one of the brightest young coaches in the country,” first-year coach Charles Kelly said in a release. “He brings unparalleled energy, a wealth of football knowledge, and a relentless commitment to excellence. His experience as both a player and coach at the highest levels of the game makes him the perfect fit to lead our defense to new heights. We can’t wait to see the impact he’ll have on our program.”
This is a quick rise to a play-calling position for the 33-year-old Sunseri, who started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Alabama in 2019 after winning two national championships as a safety with the Crimson Tide and spending three seasons in the NFL.
He spent the 2020 season as a defensive assistant with the New England Patriots before he was promoted to running backs coach, which he held for three years before following defensive coordinator Steve Belichick to Montlake. Sunseri was known as a tenacious recruiter and helped land the services of four-star Rylon Dillard Allen in the 2025 class.
He’s also a strong developer who oversaw a career year for Kamren Fabiculanan and a breakout from veteran Makell Esteen.
Both Vinnie and his brother Tino have been elevated to coordinator positions in the same offseason, with Tino taking the offensive coordinator job at UCLA.