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| COACH TOMMY RESTIVO |
Restivo will reunite with Strong after previously working for him for six seasons at stops at the University of Florida and University of Louisville. Restivo served as a defensive quality control assistant and then secondary coach at Louisville during Strong's head coaching tenure for the Cardinals. Prior to that , he was a defensive quality control assistant at Florida, serving on the team that won the 2008 BCS National Championship.
"I am very excited to have Tommy back as a member of my coaching staff and working with the Bulls," Strong said. "Tommy has great passion and energy for coaching and brings some tremendous experience having served as a defensive coordinator at two different programs. He will be a great fit with our staff and our players at USF."
Restivo comes to USF after serving his second stint as defensive coordinator/secondary coach at South Carolina State in 2017. The Bulldogs ranked eighth in total defense (279.9 ypg), eighth in rushing defense (92.8 ypg), seventh in pass efficiency defense (104.27) and 19th in scoring defense (18.8 ppg) in FCS football in 2017.
Prior to his return to South Carolina State, Restivo served as defensive coordinator at McNeese State during the 2016 season.
Restivo had his first run as defensive coordinator/secondary coach at South Carolina State during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. In 2015, his unit ranked No. 3 in FCS in passing defense, fourth in scoring defense, sixth in total defense and 25th in rushing defense. Restivo headed up a squad that led the FCS in sacks (4.18 spg), tackles for a loss (11.0 tpg), pass efficiency defense (89.98) and third-down defense (23.2%).
In 2014, the Bulldogs ranked among the top teams nationally in FCS football in several categories, including second in sacks (3.67 spg), seventh in tackles for loss (8.9 tpg), 16th in interceptions (16), and 27th in pass efficiency defense (114.85). The SCSU defense was led by 2016 third-round NFL Draft pick (Pittsburgh) Javon Hargrave, who in his senior season in 2015 ranked third in FCS with 13.5 sacks and fifth with 22 tackles for loss. The defensive tackle was a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and earned several postseason All-America honors.
Prior to joining SC State, Restivo spent four seasons (2010-2013) at the University of Louisville under Strong. In his first two years with the program, Restivo was a quality control coach on the defensive staff, working with the linebackers and defensive line. In 2012, he was promoted to secondary coach, where he guided three All-BIG EAST players in cornerback Adrian Bushell and safeties Calvin Pryor and Hakeem Smith. Pryor was a 2014 first-round draft pick of the New York Jets, while Smith signed as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans in May 2014.
Prior to Louisville, Restivo worked as a defensive quality control assistant in 2008 and 2009 at Florida under Strong and head coach Urban Meyer. He was a part of the program that won the 2008 BCS National Championship.
Restivo has coached in five bowl games in addition to the 2009 BCS National Championship Game. He was on the sidelines for the 2010 and 2013 Sugar Bowl, 2010 Beef 'O Brady's Bowl, the 2011 Belk Bowl and the 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl.
A native of Toledo, Ohio, Restivo served as a defensive graduate assistant at Marshall in 2007-08. He lettered at linebacker at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky., and earned his degree in kinesiology from Georgetown College in 2006.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
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