Indiana football is on the verge of bringing back a familiar face to its coaching staff, as Tino Sunseri is finalizing a deal to return as the Hoosiers’ quarterbacks coach.
Sunseri’s return comes on the heels of Rod Carey’s staff changes and the departure of former QB coach Sean Whitmer. But this isn’t new territory for Sunseri - far from it.
He held the same role with Indiana in 2024, doubling as co-offensive coordinator. That season, he helped guide then-starter Kurtis Rourke to a breakout year, one that saw Rourke throw for over 3,000 yards and set a school record with 29 touchdown passes.
That mark stood until Fernando Mendoza topped it just last season.
Sunseri’s coaching journey took a detour in late 2024 when he accepted the offensive coordinator job at UCLA. But things didn’t click in Westwood.
The Bruins struggled out of the gate, opening the season 0-4 and averaging just 321.2 yards per game - a number that ranked 117th nationally. By the end of September, Sunseri and the program agreed to part ways.
Now, he’s poised to reunite with Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti, a partnership that dates back to their time at James Madison University from 2021 to 2023. During that stretch, Sunseri served as the Dukes’ quarterbacks coach, and the results spoke volumes.
Under their joint leadership, JMU produced multiple standout quarterbacks, including several who earned conference player of the year honors. The chemistry between Cignetti and Sunseri was a big part of JMU’s offensive success - and Indiana is hoping that same spark reignites in Bloomington.
Sunseri will now turn his attention to developing Josh Hoover, the talented transfer brought in to replace Mendoza under center. Hoover arrives from TCU, where he threw for 3,472 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2025 - numbers that suggest he’s more than capable of keeping Indiana’s passing game humming.
For Sunseri, this is more than a reunion - it’s a second chance to build on the momentum he helped create just two seasons ago. And for Indiana, it’s a move that brings continuity, familiarity, and a proven track record back to the quarterback room.