Carl Pelini
Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Line
Carl Pelini is in his second season on his younger brother’s Nebraska coaching staff. In his first season as Nebraska’s defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, Pelini helped the Huskers field one of the nation’s most improved defensive units.
The Nebraska defense finished second in the Big 12 in total defense and ranked among the top 25 nationally in rushing defense. After creating 13 sacks in 2007, a re-energized Blackshirt defense had 35 sacks in 2008, third-best in the Big 12, including 19 in the final four games of the season. The Blackshirts also finished tops in the conference on third downs, allowing opposing teams to convert only 33.7 percent.
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh thrived under Pelini, leading the team and Big 12 defensive linemen in tackles with 76. Suh was a first-team All-Big 12 selection. Fellow defensive linemen Ty Steinkuhler and Potter were honorable-mention All-Big 12 selections.
Pelini joined the NU staff after three seasons on Frank Solich’s coaching staff at Ohio University. Pelini was no stranger to Lincoln, having served as the Huskers’ defensive graduate assistant in 2003, when Bo Pelini was the defensive coordinator. Carl Pelini worked with the defensive line and helped a unit that ranked second nationally in scoring defense and takeaways and finished 11th nationally in total defense.
Following his one season with the Huskers, Pelini spent 2004 as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Minnesota State Mankato, under head coach Jeff Jamrog, a former Husker player and assistant coach. Pelini helped the Mavericks to a 6-5 record after a winless season the previous year.
After one season in Mankato, Pelini was hired to coach the defensive line at Ohio University. He played a vital role in helping the Bobcats turn around their football program. The recent success in the Ohio program was highlighted by the 2006 season, when the Bobcats won the Mid-American Conference Eastern Division and played in the GMAC Bowl against Southern Miss. The nine victories by Ohio in 2006 marked the most for the school since 1968, also the last time the school played in a bowl game.
In 2007, Cohen earned second-team All-MAC honors for the second straight season, while helping the Bobcats to a 6-6 overall record.
Pelini was an accomplished high school coach prior to his first stint at Nebraska. He was the head coach at Fitch High School in Austintown, Ohio from 2000 to 2002. Pelini rebuilt a program that had not had a winning season for eight years before his arrival, culminating with a 6-4 record in 2002.
Pelini was also the head coach and athletic director at Winnetonka High School in Kansas City, Mo., from 1996 to 2000. He led the rebound of a program that had struggled prior to his arrival. Pelini’s 1997 team finished 8-2 and he was named Suburban Conference Coach of the Year. Pelini also served as the defensive coordinator at Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, Kan.
Pelini played two seasons at Columbia University, before transferring to Youngstown State, where he completed his degree work in 1989. While working toward his bachelor’s degree, Pelini was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Cardinal Mooney High School. He became a defensive graduate assistant coach on Bill Snyder’s staff at Kansas State in 1989 and 1990, then served as a restricted earnings coach for the Wildcats in 1991.
Pelini earned his bachelor’s degree in English literature from Youngstown State in 1989. He added a master’s degree in journalism from Kansas State in 1991 and a master’s in education from Ohio State University in 1993.
Carl and his wife, Kelley, are the parents of three children, Nicole, Danielle and Dominic. Kelley is a member of the Bo Pelini Foundation Board of Directors.
