UCLA Taps Tino Sunseri
Indiana quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri has emerged as the top candidate to replace Bieniemy, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. On Thursday, Thamel reported that Sunseri would remain with the Hoosiers through the College Football Playoff.
Sunseri joined Indiana after a highly successful stint at James Madison University (JMU), where he worked under Curt Cignetti. During his time at JMU, his quarterbacks consistently delivered standout performances. For instance, in 2023, under Sunseri’s guidance, Jordan McCloud earned Sun Belt Player of the Year honors by excelling in multiple categories. Specifically, he ranked fifth in passing touchdowns (32), sixth in points responsible for (242), ninth in passing efficiency (167.3), and tenth in total offense per game (309.2) in the FBS.
In 2022, Todd Centeio was named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Year after throwing for 2,697 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just five interceptions.
Sunseri’s coaching career also includes serving as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama during the 2019-2020 season. Additionally, he comes from a football-centric family, with his brother Vinnie coaching safeties at Washington and his father Sal coaching defensive tackles at Colorado. As a player, Sunseri excelled as a quarterback at Pittsburgh from 2010-2013.
Notably, Sunseri played a key role in the development of Indiana’s quarterbacks. Specifically, he worked with senior transfer Kurtis Rourke to enhance his performance. In the 2024 season, Rourke completed 70% of his passes for 2,827 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just four interceptions, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors under Sunseri and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan.
UCLA Taps Tino Sunseri