Tommy Restivo
Tommy Restivo is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the defensive coordinator at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Defensive coordinator |
| Team | UMass |
| Conference | FBS Ind. |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | Toledo, OH |
| Playing career | |
| 20??–2006 | Georgetown (KY) |
| Position(s) | Linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2007 | Marshall (GA) |
| 2008–2009 | Florida (DQC) |
| 2010–2011 | Louisville (DQC) |
| 2012–2013 | Louisville (DB) |
| 2014–2015 | South Carolina State (DC/DB) |
| 2016 | McNeese State (DC) |
| 2017 | South Carolina State (DC) |
| 2018 | South Florida (S) |
| 2019 | UMass (Co-DC/LB) |
| 2020–present | UMass (DC/LB) |
Playing career
Restivo lettered at linebacker while playing for the Tigers of Georgetown College, graduating in 2006.[1]
Coaching career
Early Coaching Career
Following his playing career, Restivo joined the coaching staff at Marshall as a graduate assistant for the 2007 season. In 2008 and 2009, he was a defensive quality control coach at Florida, working for defensive coordinator Charlie Strong. They won the BCS National Championship in 2009. In 2010, when Strong was hired as the head coach at Louisville, Restivo followed him. He worked as a defensive quality control coach in 2010 and 2011, before being promoted to defensive backs coach in 2012 and 2013.[1]
FCS Experience
From 2014 through 2017, Restivo was a defensive coordinator at the FCS level. In ’14 and ’15, he was the defensive coordinator on Buddy Pough at South Carolina State. His defenses here ranked in the top 10 in the FCS multiple categories.[1] In 2016, Restivo joined Lance Guidry’s staff at McNeese State as the defensive coordinator,[2] before returning to South Carolina State in 2017. He again served as the defensive coordinator.[3]
South Florida
In 2018, Restivo reunited with Charlie Strong when he joined the staff at South Florida as the safeties coach.[3] That season, he helped coach a defense that forced 22 turnovers.
UMass
For the 2019 season, Restivo joined new head coach Walt Bell’s staff at UMass as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Personal life
Restivo is from Toledo, OH. He graduated with a degree in Kinesiology.
References
- "Tommy Restivo". gousfbulls.com. University of South Florida SID. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
- Bonnette, Matthew. "Tommy Restivo Named Cowboys' Defensive Coordinator". mcneesesports.com. McNeese State University SID. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
- Bond, Nathan (February 28, 2019). "BREAKING: S.C. State Defensive Coordinator Tommy Restivo Hired as Tenth Assistant for USF Football". The Daily Stampede. Vox Media Inc. SB Nation. Retrieved May 12, 2019.