Joe Rossi (American football)

Joseph Rossi (born 1979) is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Michigan State.

Joe Rossi
Current position
TitleDefensive coordinator & linebackers coach
TeamMichigan State
ConferenceBig Ten
Biographical details
Born (1979-04-05) April 5, 1979 (age 45)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
1997–2000Allegheny
Position(s)Defensive end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2001–2002Thiel (DL)
2003–2006Thiel (DC/LB)
2007–2008Maine (ST/DB)
2009–2011Maine (DC/LB)
2012–2013Rutgers (ST)
2014–2015Rutgers (DC/S)
2017Minnesota (QC)
2018Minnesota (DL)
2018Minnesota (Interim DC/LB)
2019–2023Minnesota (DC/LB)
2024–presentMichigan State (DC/LB)

Early life

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Rossi grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he attended Central Catholic High School. He competed on the football team as a defensive lineman. Rossi then accepted a scholarship to continue his playing career at Allegheny College. He was a three-time All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC).[1]

Coaching career

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On March 12, 2012, Rossi was named the special teams coordinator for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team.[2][3][4][5] In 2013, Rossi was elevated to defensive coordinator for the Scarlet Knights.

Rossi was named Gophers defensive line coach in January 2018 after working as a quality control assistant for Minnesota in 2017. On November 24, 2018, Joe Rossi was promoted to defensive coordinator.[6] In 2022, he coached the Gophers defense to a pair of shutouts for the first time since 2006.[7]

On December 11, 2023, Rossi was named the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Michigan State[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Nine Gators Earn First Team All-NCAC Honors;". www.alleghenygators.com. Allegheny College. December 1, 2000. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  2. ^ Luicci, Tom (March 12, 2012). "Rutgers to name Maine defensive coordinator Joe Rossi new special teams coach". NJ.com. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  3. ^ "Joe Rossi". Rutgers Football. Rutgers University. Archived from the original on August 27, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  4. ^ "Rutgers Finalizes Football Coaching Staff with Two Hires". Rutgers Football. Rutgers University. March 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  5. ^ "Joe Rossi". Scarlet Nation. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  6. ^ "Joe Rossi earns job as Gophers defensive coordinator". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  7. ^ "Five takeaways as Minnesota Football suffocates Rutgers, 31-0". 247Sports. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "Joe Rossi hired at Michigan State". Detroit Free Press.
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