Georgia Tech has turned to Vinnie Sunseri to handle defensive play calling after a sweeping staff shakeup following the Yellow Jackets’ 44-17 loss to Louisville.
The move comes after Brent Key dismissed wide receivers coach Jafar Williams, offensive line coach Allen Mogridge, defensive ends coach Kyle Pope, and defensive coordinator Jason Semore. The defensive changes were the most expected part of the overhaul, given Georgia Tech’s place near the bottom of the major statistical categories on that side of the ball.
Sunseri, the safeties coach, is in his first season with Georgia Tech after spending last year at Florida as safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator. He now gets the job of preparing the Yellow Jackets for Clemson on Saturday, Wake Forest next Saturday, and then Georgia in the regular-season finale.
For plenty of people, Sunseri’s name still brings back memories of his playing days at Alabama. He was a safety for Nick Saban during the height of the Crimson Tide’s dynasty and stood out as one of the SEC’s top defensive backs in that stretch.
After that run in Tuscaloosa, Sunseri was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints and spent several seasons in the league before moving into coaching. His first stop came back at Alabama, where he worked as a graduate assistant for former Crimson Tide defensive Charles Kelly before returning to the NFL coaching ranks.
With the New England Patriots, Sunseri started out as a defensive assistant before shifting to running backs. In 2021, he helped former Alabama running back Damien Harris post career-best numbers with 929 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, the latter tying for second in the NFL that season.
After his time in New England, Sunseri joined Steve Belichick’s defensive staff at the Univeristy of Washington as safeties coach. He then took a similar role at Florida under Billy Napier last season before making his way to The Flats.
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Georgia Was At The Center Of Another Ugly SEC Road Controversy
The SECs latest response to fan behavior came out of another ugly road scene in Athens, where Ole Miss was fined $250,000 after debris was thrown onto the field during its game against Georgia. The stoppages interrupted play multiple times, adding another layer of chaos to a matchup Georgia controlled from start to finish.
The conference also warned Ole Miss that continued incidents could lead to a suspension of alcohol sales, a step that underscores how seriously the league is treating repeated problems in the stands. Georgia and Ole Miss have both dealt with similar fan behavior issues in recent games, but this one stood out because it unfolded in a high-profile SEC game and forced the officials to keep halting action. [Read more 🡒]