After long-time Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni became former Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni, he landed in the NFL for the first time in a career that began in 1976. Pasqualoni spent three years in Dallas under Bill Parcells, jumping to Miami with the Tuna and Tony Sparano in 2008 as defensive coordinator.
Pasqualoni was fired by the Fins after the 2009 season, and he immediately returned to the Cowboys as defensive line coach, during the 2009 playoffs.
Promoted to defensive coordinator after head coach Wade Phillips was fired during the 2010 season, Pasqualoni has now gotten another promotion. He’ll become the head coach at the University of Connecticut.
CFT has the details. Pasqualoni was a surprise choice, with former NFL assistant and former University of Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple expected to get the job. Former Jets and Browns coach Eric Mangini, a Connecticut native, was mentioned initially for the job once Gary Edsall bolted to Maryland, but there apparently was no interest from school or coach or both.