Jacksonville State has hired Vinnie Sunseri to take over as defensive coordinator, the program announced on Thursday.

Sunseri is the third hire announced on new head coach Charles Kelly’s staff, alongside offensive coordinator Clint Trickett and offensive line coach Rick Trickett.

“Vinnie is one of the brightest young coaches in the country,” Kelly said in a release. “He brings unparalleled energy, a wealth of football knowledge, and a relentless commitment to excellence. His experience as both a player and coach at the highest levels of the game makes him the perfect fit to lead our defense to new heights. We can’t wait to see the impact he’ll have on our program.”

Sunseri, a Northridge High graduate, comes to Jax State after most recently serving as safeties coach at Washington for one season.

Before being hired by the Huskies, he served as running backs coach for the New England Patriots from 2021-2023 after one season as a defensive coaching assistant.

He started his coaching career in 2019 as a graduate assistant at Alabama alongside Kelly, who was serving as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at the time under Nick Saban.

As a player, was a part of Alabama’s defense that won back-to-back BCS national championships in 2011 and 2012 as a safety and special teamer; he was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and also played for the Patriots and San Francisco 49ers.

The new Jax State coordinator’s father — Sal Sunseri — has also coached alongside Kelly, with the two sharing a sideline at Florida State, Alabama and Colorado.

Both coaches were a part of the 2013 Florida State team that won a BCS national championship and the 2020 Alabama team that won a College Football Playoff title.