COLLEGE FOOTBALL 'Bo' Pelini named Nebraska assistant

The Mooney graduate will leave the Green Bay Packers to become the Cornhuskers' defensive coordinator.
STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
SHREVEPORT, La. -- Nebraska coach Frank Solich named Youngstown native Mark "Bo" Pelini as the new defensive coordinator for the football team on Monday, as the Huskers arrived for their 34th consecutive bowl appearance.
Pelini, 35, comes to the Huskers from the Green Bay Packers, who are 12-3 and have already clinched the NFC North.
Pelini, a Cardinal Mooney High graduate, officially accepted the defensive coordinator post following Sunday's 10-0 shutout of the Buffalo Bills in Green Bay. He will finish the season as the Packers linebacker coach, before reporting for duty with the Huskers.
Impact on recruiting
While he will not help coach the Huskers at the Independence Bowl, Pelini will have an impact on the recruitment of players and will be involved in the hiring of two other defensive assistant coaches.
Making the announcement Monday via press release, Solich said, "He has an outstanding background and came highly recommended from many people associated with football at every level of coaching.
"He was identified extremely early in the process as a good fit for this program, and I am certain he will be an excellent defensive coordinator for Nebraska."
Pelini said that Nebraska is a good fit for him, as well.
"Nebraska has a tradition of excellence in its football program and in its athletic department in general, and I think it is an excellent opportunity to be a part of another winning program," Pelini said.
"It was a tough decision because working for the Packers organization has been wonderful," he added. "I am committed to helping us get to the Super Bowl. Green Bay has been a great place to work, and I will miss the players, organization and the fans, but Nebraska has offered me the opportunity to be a defensive coordinator and I look forward to that challenge."
Experienced
Pelini has nine years of NFL experience. He is in his third year as the linebacker coach for coach Mike Sherman at Green Bay.
Before he joined the Packers on Feb. 9, 2000, Pelini coached the linebackers for the New England Patriots under Pete Carroll from 1997 to 1999.
Prior to joining the Patriots, Pelini served on George Seifert's San Francisco 49ers staff for three seasons (1994 to 1996). Originally hired as a scouting assistant in the spring of 1994, Pelini soon joined the coaching staff as a defensive assistant, working with the secondary through the 1996 season.
Pelini began his coaching career as a graduate assistant on the staff of Hayden Fry at Iowa in 1991, assisting with the receivers for one season. In 1992, Pelini worked full-time toward his masters degree.
Coaching career
In 1993, Pelini returned to his prep alma mater, Cardinal Mooney, to coach the quarterbacks and secondary.
A standout free safety at Ohio State from 1987 to 1990, Pelini earned four letters playing for the Buckeyes. He was coached by Earle Bruce in 1987 and John Cooper his last three seasons.
Pelini helped the Buckeyes post a 15-8 record his last two seasons as a starter and earned academic All-Big Ten Conference honors three times. A senior co-captain, he received the "Bo Rein Award," given annually to the Buckeyes' most inspirational senior.
Pelini replaces Craig Bohl, who was relieved of his duties as defensive coordinator and linebacker coach on Dec. 2. Pelini is just the third defensive coordinator at Nebraska since 1982.
Earning his bachelor's degree in business marketing from Ohio State in 1990, Pelini completed his master's degree in sports administration at Ohio University in 1992.
Born Dec. 13, 1967, in Youngstown, Pelini and his wife Mary Pat have two children, 3-year old son Patrick and 1-year old daughter Kathryn, and are expecting their third child in April.
His brother, Carl, is the head football coach at Austintown Fitch.