Paul Pasqualoni (1991-2004)
Syracuse coaching record: 107-59-1
In 1987, Paul Pasqualoni began his career with the Orange as an assistant coach. After only a few years he took over the reins as head coach starting in 1991. Pasqualoni arguably had one of the best coaching tenures of any Orange head coach. He is second all-time on the Syracuse coaching wins list, behind Ben Schwartzwalder.
Pasqualoni ended up coaching 14 seasons for Syracuse and led the team to an overall 107 total wins versus 59 losses. During his tenure, the squad reached nine bowl games and secured six victories.
His success with Syracuse catapulted him to the next level. Since leaving Syracuse, he has served in nine different positions and seven of those included coaching jobs in the NFL.
Immediately after leaving the Orange he took a job as the tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He stuck around there for two more seasons but as a linebackers coach.
Pasqualoni’s career as a coach could be considered one of a journeyman. He is continually changing jobs and positions all over college and pro football. Despite changing teams often, his prowess has been acknowledged where he regularly gets new job offers.
After leaving Dallas, the former Syracuse head coach took his first defensive coordinator position with the Miami Dolphins.
A few years later Pasqualoni headed back to the college ranks and became the head coach for the UConn football team. He was there for three years but got fired in his third season.
Pasqualoni had one more stint in college football with Boston College in 2016 before he finally returned to the NFL for good.
Currently, Pasqualoni is the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. His defense is experiencing an uptick in statistics this year under his second year in control. The undefeated Lions take on the Kansas City Chiefs this week, and Pasqualoni’s defense has a tough task ahead of them.
After leaving ‘Cuse Pasqualoni had a long and successful career bouncing between college and the pros. Finally, he ended back up in the NFL as a defensive coordinator.