BOWLING GREEN — Carl Pelini has been named defensive coordinator of the Bowling Green State University football team.
Pelini is a former defensive coordinator at Nebraska and most recently served in a similar position at Youngstown State for the past three seasons. Both times he was an assistant under his brother, Bo Pelini.
Bowling Green announced the hiring Tuesday.
"I am extremely excited to become part of the Bowling Green Falcon coaching staff, Bowling Green State University, and the community at large," Pelini said in a statement. "I would like to thank [BGSU head coach Mike] Jinks, the staff and the administration for all their help in making this opportunity become reality. I look forward to working with the young men in the program, and to developing a passionate, physical brand of defense that will define us from this point forward."
Last season the Falcons had one of the worst defenses in the country statistically under coordinator Perry Eliano, who was relieved of his duties Dec. 3. Bowling Green surrendered an average of 506.6 yards per game, the worst mark in the Mid-American Conference; only four of the 128 other Football Bowl Subdivision schools gave up more yards per game.
The Falcons allowed 253.3 rushing yards per game to rank No. 126 among 129 FBS schools. The pass defense allowed 253.3 yards per game (No. 104), and the pass efficiency rating of opposing quarterbacks last season was 141.21, which ranked 103rd nationally and 11th in the MAC.
BG also gave up 38.0 points per game to rank next-to-last in the MAC (Ball State allowed 40.7 points per game) and No. 122 nationally.
Carl Pelini helped lead Youngstown State to the FCS title game in the 2016 season, where the Penguins lost to James Madison 28-14. This past season YSU’s defense led all FCS schools in fewest passing yards allowed, surrendering just 143.7 yards per game.
The Penguins also tied for 20th nationally in total defense (316.9 yards per game) and were 20th in points allowed per game (19.1), the team’s best mark since 2007.
Carl Pelini spent two seasons (2012-13) as the head coach at Florida Atlantic University. He resigned in October, 2013, after allegations of drug use by one of his assistant coaches; Pelini denied the accusations, which were never proven, and passed multiple drug tests upon joining his brother’s staff at Youngstown State.
Florida Atlantic had a 3-9 record under Pelini in 2012 and had a 2-6 record at the time he left; the Owls finished with a 6-6 record in 2013.
RELATED: Click here to read a Sports Illustrated story following Pelini’s dismissal from Florida Atlantic.
Pelini was an assistant coach at Nebraska from 2008-11 after serving for three seasons (2005-07) as an assistant coach for Frank Solich at Ohio. Pelini also was an assistant coach at Minnesota State in 2004 and also had experience on the staff at Kansas State as a graduate assistant from 1989-91.
Pelini also has served as a head coach at Austintown Fitch High School in suburban Youngstown from 2000-02. At Fitch, which had not had a winning season in eight years prior to his arrival, Pelini was able to post a 6-4 mark in his final season.
Pelini also has experience as a head coach at Winnetonka High School in suburban Kansas City.
Pelini is a Youngstown native, having graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School — the same school that his brother Bo attended, as did former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and his brother, current Kentucky coach Mike Stoops.
Carl Pelini played linebacker at Columbia University for two seasons (1993-94) before returning to Youngstown State to receive a bachelor’s degree in English literature. He also has received master’s degrees in journalism from Kansas State and in education from The Ohio State University.
Contact John Wagner at jwagner@theblade.com, 419-724-6481, or on Twitter @jwagnerblade.
First Published December 19, 2017, 3:24 a.m.
