Tommy Restivo is an American football coach and former player. He was the defensive coordinator at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Tommy Restivo
Biographical details
BornToledo, OH
Playing career
20??–2006Georgetown (KY)
Position(s)Linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2007Marshall (GA)
2008–2009Florida (DQC)
2010–2011Louisville (DQC)
2012–2013Louisville (DB)
2014–2015South Carolina State (DC/DB)
2016McNeese State (DC)
2017South Carolina State (DC)
2018South Florida (S)
2019UMass (Co-DC/LB)
2020–2021UMass (DC/LB)

Playing career edit

Restivo lettered at linebacker while playing for the Tigers of Georgetown College, graduating in 2006.[1]

Coaching career edit

Early Coaching Career edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

For the 2019 season, Restivo joined new head coach Walt Bell’s staff at UMass as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Coach was let go with the Walt Bell on November 7. Athletic Director Ryan Bamford wished both men good luck.[4]

Personal life edit

Restivo is from Plainfield, IN. He graduated with a degree in Kinesiology.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Tommy Restivo". gousfbulls.com. University of South Florida SID. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  2. ^ Bonnette, Matthew. "Tommy Restivo Named Cowboys' Defensive Coordinator". mcneesesports.com. McNeese State University SID. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  3. ^ a b 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.
  4. ^ Herman, Howard (November 7, 2021). "UMass fires football coach Walt Bell after 2 1/2 seasons, DC Tommy Restivo also out; Alex Miller named interim coach". berkshireeagle.com. The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved January 2, 2022.

External links edit