Tomahawk Nation has learned that Sal Sunseri will join the Florida State coaching staff as a linebacker or defensive end coach.
Though I never saw Pitt hiring him, Sal Sunseri is definitely off the table now, as he is officially headed to Florida State.
— Chris Dokish (@ChrisDokish) December 17, 2012
Sunseri, 53, was just fired after a one-year stint as Tennessee's defensive coordinator, along with the rest of the Vols' staff.
Despite the awful defense he oversaw at Tennessee, he has an excellent reputation of working with ends and linebackers.
Between 1985 and 1992, Sunseri worked as a defensive ends and linebacker coach for Pitt, his alma mater. He also was the defensive ends coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2002 to 2008. After, he joined Nick Saban's defensive staff at Alabama, as outside linebackers coach.
New defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt worked with Sunseri from 2009 to 2011 at Alabama, and Jimbo Fisher also has a relationship with Sunseri.
The hire of Sunseri could calm the fears of some who have questioned Pruitt's lack of experience (three years of college coaching) and complete lack of experience as a defensive coordinator.
It is unknown whether Sunseri will coach ends or linebackers, a designation that will likely be determined at a later date after Florida State makes a determination as to the future of linebacker coach Greg Hudson.
As a bonus, Sunseri is known as a very good recruiter.