Football
Pecoraro, Tony
Tony Pecoraro
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
- Email:
- tony.pecoraro@usm.edu
- Phone:
- 266-5393
Tony Pecoraro rejoined Southern Miss in February after serving as the team's defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach from 2016-17.
He will again run the Golden Eagle defense and oversee the linebackers for the program.
He served as a senior analyst for defense last season at Kansas. Prior to his stint at Kansas, Pecoraro was the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Florida Atlantic in 2018.
Pecoraro, in his previous Golden Eagle tenure, helped lead two Top 20 total defenses nationally.
He guided the defense to a No. 15 ranking in his first season. Southern Miss played in the 2016 R&L Carrier New Orleans Bowl where the defense was led by All-Conference defensive linemen Dylan Bradley and Xavier Thigpen, and linebackers D’Nerius Antoine and Elijah Parker.
The 2017 Southern Miss team, which finished No. 20 nationally in total defense, participated in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl and were led defensively by C-USA selections Thigpen and Curtis Mikell.
Before going to Southern Miss, Pecoraro worked as Alcorn State’s defensive coordinator, a position he held for four seasons. His efforts at Alcorn State helped to lead the Braves to two Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and was instrumental in helping lead the Braves to the 2014 HBCU National Championship.
Prior to his stint in Lorman, Pecoraro served a two-year stint at North Alabama as defensive coordinator. Pecoraro had an integral part in North Alabama’s success, producing five All-Americans and 11 All-Gulf States Conference players. In both seasons at North Alabama, Pecoraro helped lead the Lions to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Previous to North Alabama, Pecoraro earned his stripes during eight years of collegiate coaching, including five seasons over two separate stints at Florida State (2002-03, 2005-08).
During his tenure at FSU, Pecoraro was a part of Atlantic Coast Conference championship teams in 2002-03. The Seminoles played in five bowl games during Pecoraro’s time in Tallahassee, including the Nokia Sugar Bowl in 2003, the FedEx Orange Bowl in 2004, the Music City Bowl in 2007, the Champs Sports Bowl in 2008 and the Gator Bowl in 2009.
Pecoraro began his collegiate coaching career at Webber International University in Babson Park, Fla., where he worked as a graduate assistant from 2004-05. In 2006, Pecoraro was promoted to a full-time position, coaching the defensive line and serving as recruiting coordinator. During this time, Pecoraro also earned his M.B.A.
In his first experience with FSU, Pecoraro served as a student assistant from the 2002-03 season working directly with the quarterbacks. He also earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management.
Pecoraro is married to the former Tania Fernandez, and have a son, Rocky Tarim and a daughter, Isabella Amore.
He will again run the Golden Eagle defense and oversee the linebackers for the program.
He served as a senior analyst for defense last season at Kansas. Prior to his stint at Kansas, Pecoraro was the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Florida Atlantic in 2018.
Pecoraro, in his previous Golden Eagle tenure, helped lead two Top 20 total defenses nationally.
He guided the defense to a No. 15 ranking in his first season. Southern Miss played in the 2016 R&L Carrier New Orleans Bowl where the defense was led by All-Conference defensive linemen Dylan Bradley and Xavier Thigpen, and linebackers D’Nerius Antoine and Elijah Parker.
The 2017 Southern Miss team, which finished No. 20 nationally in total defense, participated in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl and were led defensively by C-USA selections Thigpen and Curtis Mikell.
Before going to Southern Miss, Pecoraro worked as Alcorn State’s defensive coordinator, a position he held for four seasons. His efforts at Alcorn State helped to lead the Braves to two Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and was instrumental in helping lead the Braves to the 2014 HBCU National Championship.
Prior to his stint in Lorman, Pecoraro served a two-year stint at North Alabama as defensive coordinator. Pecoraro had an integral part in North Alabama’s success, producing five All-Americans and 11 All-Gulf States Conference players. In both seasons at North Alabama, Pecoraro helped lead the Lions to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Previous to North Alabama, Pecoraro earned his stripes during eight years of collegiate coaching, including five seasons over two separate stints at Florida State (2002-03, 2005-08).
During his tenure at FSU, Pecoraro was a part of Atlantic Coast Conference championship teams in 2002-03. The Seminoles played in five bowl games during Pecoraro’s time in Tallahassee, including the Nokia Sugar Bowl in 2003, the FedEx Orange Bowl in 2004, the Music City Bowl in 2007, the Champs Sports Bowl in 2008 and the Gator Bowl in 2009.
Pecoraro began his collegiate coaching career at Webber International University in Babson Park, Fla., where he worked as a graduate assistant from 2004-05. In 2006, Pecoraro was promoted to a full-time position, coaching the defensive line and serving as recruiting coordinator. During this time, Pecoraro also earned his M.B.A.
In his first experience with FSU, Pecoraro served as a student assistant from the 2002-03 season working directly with the quarterbacks. He also earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management.
Pecoraro is married to the former Tania Fernandez, and have a son, Rocky Tarim and a daughter, Isabella Amore.
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