Former Head Coach Pasqualoni Hired as Analyst at Florida State

Florida State has hired former Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni as a defensive analyst.

After the firing of head coach Mike Norvell, defensive coordinator Tony White, and safeties coach Evan Cooper, Pasqualoni comes to a coaching staff in chaos.

At age 77, Pasqualoni brings extensive experience coaching the defensive line and linebackers to the Seminoles, and has coached at every level: high school, college, and the NFL.

Pasqualoni’s college coaching career began in 1976 at Southern Connecticut.

In 1987, Pasqualoni was hired to coach the linebackers at Syracuse under head coach Dick MacPherson, and was later named the head coach in 1991.

Pasqualoni posted a 107-59-1 record with the Orangemen (now known as the Orange), and only had one losing season during his tenure. A 4-8 season in 2002 was his only blemish.

Syracuse won four Big East Conference championships under Pasqualoni. 

He coached such players as quarterback Donovan McNabb, receiver Marvin Harrison, and defensive linemen/linebacker Dwight Freeney.

Pasqualoni led the Orangemen to nine bowl appearances, winning six of those contests.

At Florida State, Pasqualoni will cast a fresh set of eyes upon a unit that has performed poorly for the majority of the season.

The Seminoles are ranked near the bottom of the ACC in every defensive category, including dead last in turnover margin at -8.

Mired in a three-game losing streak, Florida State has been porous against the run.

The Seminoles have allowed a combined 816 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in losses to Louisville, Miami, and Clemson.

In the loss to Clemson, the Florida State secondary gave up two touchdown passes. Coming into that game, the Tigers quarterbacks had thrown just two touchdown passes all season.

Florida State’s top seven tacklers play in the second and third levels of the defense. That means the defensive line is not getting consistent penetration at the line of scrimmage.

They are not forcing negative plays, in the form of sacks and tackles for loss, on a consistent basis.

With Ernie Sims now acting as interim defensive coordinator, and Pasqualoni analyzing how to improve the defensive production, attitude and experience could win the day at Boston College.

The reset has begun, if only for a four-game stretch.

Interim head coach Rick Stocktill is as happy and excited as a kid on Christmas. He gets the chance to stand on the sideline in the ghostly shadow of his legendary mentor Bobby Bowden.

Welcome back to D-1 football, coach Pasqualoni. Your experience is needed and appreciated.