Carl Pelini’s defense critical in Penguins’ playoff run

By Charles Grove | January 6, 2017 at 12:10a.m.

Since his days as an assistant coach at Cardinal Mooney, his alma mater, in 1987-88, Carl Pelini has been a part of football in some capacity. Now he’s about to coach in the biggest game of his life.

He’s coached at bigger schools at the FBS level from Nebraska, Ohio and Florida Atlantic, but playing for a national title means everything.

“This is the biggest game I’ve ever coached in,” Pelini said. “We played in three conference championship games at Nebraska but we never made it to the national title game.”

Not only is this the biggest game, but it’s for his hometown and alma mater.

“This game really takes on a special meaning because it’s Youngstown State,” Pelini said. “It’s all my family and friends who have been at the games.

“In my high school days YSU was on its runs with Coach Tressel and then I was gone for 30 years but I continued to think of YSU as a national power. It’s a special meaning because we’re able to accomplish this where we are, not someplace else.”

Pelini gets to coach alongside his brother Bo for now their second stint together. The Pelinis also coached together at Nebraska from 2008-11, during Bo’s head coaching stint with the Cornhuskers. Carl credits their strong bond to their similar personalities and styles.

“In this business it’s really difficult to work with someone who you don’t share a philosophy with,” Carl said. “It goes with any job really. [Bo and I] have been together a long time we kind of read each other’s minds now.

“We’ve been especially good this second time around. The trust he has in me has allowed him to be a true head coach. He spends just as much time in the offensive meeting room as the defensive meeting room.”

Carl’s return to the Mahoning Valley didn’t come without a price.

Carl replaced the legendary south Florida football coach Howard Schnellenberger as head coach at Florida Atlantic in 2012 but resigned from that position after just 20 games on Oct. 30, 2013 when allegations of Carl using cocaine and marijuana became public. An assistant coach claimed he witnessed Carl and assistant coach Pete Rekstis use the drugs. Carl denied the allegations.

Bo took over at YSU in 2015 and invited Carl on as an assistant who is now in charge of one of the most dominant defenses in the country.

“[The move from FAU] came at the right time for me,” Carl said. “When I got into the business I was in high school and then I was a graduate assistant, then Division II, then the MAC, then at a major program. It just seems like you’re always looking for the next opportunity for the next job.

“But I’m 51 now. I’ve been doing this for almost 30 years and I think I have a whole new perspective on life. Coming home was important but coming into an atmosphere where everybody is in it together it very special. You rarely find that in college sports these days.”

Carl has coached some dominant defenses at Nebraska, but Pelini said his current defense is right up there.

“It’s as good as any I’ve had,” he said. “Our second year at Nebraska we had Ndamukong Suh and a very special group of linebackers and defensive backs. But in terms of level we’ve got a couple defensive ends who dominate the game as much as Suh did and we’ve got linebackers who dominate the game as others did as well.”

People knew this YSU defense was going to be good this season. But like many coaches say the real challenge is continuing to improve from good to great. Pelini believes his team has accomplished that this season.

“A lot of times being good is based on talent and having the right kids in your program but that step from good to great takes a certain drive on the part of everyone,” Pelini said. “I think the things that separate us from last year is our senior leadership.

“We’ve got a bunch of guys who have invested in the offseason and who believe in each other. It’s been a very unique year.”

That unique year could end up being the most unique of all for Carl Pelini — one that ends with a national championship.