Pelini Joins OU Staff

Bo Pelini, formerly the defensive coordinator and interim head football coach at Nebraska, has joined the Oklahoma staff, OU head coach Bob Stoops announced Saturday. Pelini said he expects to be in Norman some time over the next two weeks.

The new assistant replaces Mike Stoops, who left Oklahoma to become the head coach at Arizona. Pelini will coach the defensive backs and serve as co-defensive coordinator with Brent Venables, who will assume another title that Mike Stoops held, associate head coach.

The move reunites Bob Stoops with a lifelong friend. Like Stoops, Pelini hails from Youngstown, Ohio. He played for Stoops' father, Ron Sr., at Cardinal Mooney High School and was one year behind Bob's younger brother, Mark.

"Bo comes in with a great track record," Bob Stoops said. "He has enjoyed success on many levels. I have known Bo for a long time and know the kind of quality person that he is. That, combined with his coaching experience, makes him a great addition to our staff."

Pelini said his familiarity with Stoops was an attraction on his end, as well.

"I have tremendous respect for Bob as a person and a coach," Pelini said. "I've known him for a long time. I grew up watching him play (football). He and the other coaches there have established a program that stands for excellence in every way. Bob's teams win and win with class. I would expect nothing less knowing the kind of person he is."

Pelini said the recent OU success and the tradition of the program are significant to him.

"I like the fact that the defense is known for playing the way it does, smart, aggressive and tough," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting in there and contributing what I can toward winning a national championship. That's my number one goal."

Pelini, 36, was at Nebraska for one season serving as defensive coordinator. He was the interim head coach for the Huskers after Frank Solich was dismissed following the regular season. In that role, Pelini led NU to a 17-3 victory over Michigan State in the MasterCard Alamo Bowl.

Pelini was the architect of the 2003 Husker defense that was one of the most opportunistic in school history, forcing 47 turnovers, which tied the Nebraska season record set during the 1971 national championship run. The takeaway total ranked No. 2 in the nation, and Pelini's ball-hawking defense allowed Nebraska to lead the nation in turnover margin at +1.77 per game.

Pelini guided a defense that pitched a pair of shutouts, the first time Nebraska had two shutouts in the same season since 1999. Nebraska ranked in the top 15 nationally in four of five major defensive statistical categories, including No. 1 in pass efficiency defense (88.66 rating), No. 2 in scoring defense (14.5 ppg), No. 11 in passing yards allowed (177.8 ypg) and No. 11 in total defense (297.2 ypg).

In 2003, Pelini's unit held eight opponents to less than 100 yards rushing and seven to less than 250 yards of total offense. Two of Pelini's pupils earned first-team All-Big 12 honors, including linebacker Demorrio Williams, who was a Butkus semifinalist, and free safety Josh Bullocks, who was a Jim Thorpe semifinalist and a first-team All-American.

Pelini was named Nebraska's defensive coordinator on Dec. 23, 2002, the same day that the Husker football team arrived in Shreveport for the Independence Bowl. He came to the Huskers from the Green Bay Packers, who finished the 2002 season with a 12-4 record, won the NFC North and advanced to the playoffs.

Pelini has nine years of NFL experience, two at a Division I school and one in the high school ranks. In 2002, he finished his third year as the linebacker coach for Head Coach Mike Sherman at Green Bay. Pelini previously served under two of the game's highly respected defensive minds in George Seifert and Pete Carroll.

In 2002, the Packers ranked fourth in pass defense among all NFL teams, allowing 188.4 yards per game. In the last three years, the Packers posted a 33-15 regular-season record. In 2001, Green Bay advanced to the second round of the playoffs, and in 2002 they qualified for the playoffs a third straight year.

Before he joined the Packers on Feb. 9, 2000, Pelini coached the linebackers for the New England Patriots under Carroll. Pelini held that position from 1997 to 1999. His efforts in 1997 were highlighted by the first Pro Bowl appearance for Chris Slade, the first Patriots linebacker to be voted to the Pro Bowl since Johnny Rembert in 1989. The Patriots were a combined 27-21 with Pelini on staff and advanced to the playoffs in both 1997 and 1998.

Before joining the Patriots, Pelini served on 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. The 49ers won Super Bowl XXIX in 1994 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs the next two seasons.

Pelini also had previous experience coaching on the college level. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant on the staff with Hayden Fry at Iowa in 1991, assisting with the receivers for one season. In 1991, Iowa finished 10-1-1 playing in the Holiday Bowl, tying BYU (13-13). In 1992, Pelini worked full-time toward his master's degree.

In 1993, Pelini returned to his prep alma mater, Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio, to coach the quarterbacks and secondary, after earning a master's degree.

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.

After 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, Ohio, Mark "Bo" Pelini and his wife, the former Mary Pat Leetch, have three children, a four-year old son Patrick, a two-year old daughter Kathryn, and a eight-month daughter, Caralyn.

Pelini's appointment is pending approval of the OU Board of Regents.

The Pelini File
Date and Place of Birth:
Dec. 13, 1967, Youngstown, Ohio

Family:
Wife Mary Pat; Children Patrick (4), Kathryn (2), Caralyn (8 months)

Education:
Bachelor's in business marketing, Ohio State, 1990; master's in sports administration, Ohio, 1992

Playing Experience:
1987-90, Ohio State

Coaching Experience:
1991, Iowa (graduate assistant coach/receivers); 1993, Cardinal Mooney (Youngstown, Ohio) High School (assistant coach/quarterbacks/secondary); 1994-96, San Francisco 49ers (assistant coach/secondary); 1997-99, New England Patriots (assistant coach/linebackers); 2000-02, Green Bay Packers (assistant coach/linebackers); 2003-present, Nebraska (defensive coordinator); Nov. 30, 2003-present, Nebraska (interim head coach)All-Americans (1): Josh Bullocks, FS, 2003

All-Conference (2):
Josh Bullocks, FS; Demorrio Williams, LB, 2003

Academic All-Conference (12):
Titus Adams, DE, Chad Buller, LB, Kevin Guse, DB, Kellen Huston, CB, Trevor Johnson, DE, Pat Ricketts, CB, Barrett Ruud, LB, Shane Siegel, SS, Chad Sievers, LB, Fred Thorne, CB, Curt Tomasevicz, LB, Seth White, CB, 2003.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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