Jon Tenuta is the associate head coach for the defense and the defensive coordinator. Tenuta joined Mike London's coaching staff on Jan. 3, 2013 after three seasons at NC State. The UVa alum returns to Charlottesville for the first time in a working capacity since being a graduate assistant for the Cavaliers in 1981 and 1982.
Entering his 33rd season of collegiate coaching, Tenuta has a wealth of FBS coaching experience, including being the defensive coordinator at various BCS stops: Kansas State, Ohio State, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and NC State. Tenuta also served Marshall and SMU as defensive coordinator as well during the 1980s and has served as a defensive coordinator in 16 of his 32 seasons as a collegiate coach.
Most recently at NC State, his defense included David Amerson, who led the nation in 2011 with 13 INTs.
Tenuta has coached in 16 bowl games during his career and served as the interim head coach for Georgia Tech at the 2007 Humanitarian Bowl. After he arrived at Notre Dame, he helped the Irish defense improve in all defensive categories and coached 2012 Heisman Trophy runner-up Manti-Teo to a freshman All-American season.
While at Georgia Tech, 18 Yellow Jacket defenders earned first- or second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition and 18 players from his first four units were either drafted or signed to NFL free-agent contracts. in the six years Tenuta was in Atlanta, his defenses were ranked nationally in total, scoring and rushing defense, including 20th or better against the run the last five years.
In 2001, Tenuta guided the ACC's top-rated defense at North Carolina during his only season in Chapel Hill. Tenuta spent five seasons at Ohio State and he helped develop several All-Americans and first-round NFL draft picks. Ohio State's pass defense was consistently ranked among the nation's best during that span.
In 1989, he was an assistant coach at SMU, where he helped Forrest Gregg rebuild the program. Tenuta also has had stops at Maryland (graduate assistant), Vanderbilt (DBs) and Oklahoma (DBs).
Tenuta has coached more than 30 players who went on to play professional football. A three-year letterwinner as a defensive back at Virginia (1978, '79, '80), he won the team's John Acree Memorial Football Trophy and Kevin Bowie Award. Tenuta graduated with a degree in physical education and health in 1982. He met his wife, Dori (Gamble) while at UVa. Dori played basketball at Virginia, lettering four times between 1978 and 1981. They have three sons: Zach, Matt and Luke.
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