University of Minnesota Athletics
Football
Rossi, Joe
Joe Rossi
- Title:
- Quality Control
NOTABLE:
Joe Rossi joined the Minnesota football staff in January 2017 and has served in a number of different roles before being named the team's defensive coordinator / linebackers coach on Nov. 24, 2018.
Rossi worked as a quality control assistant in 2017, and was then named defensive line coach prior to the 2018 season and was then named interim defensive coordinator on Nov. 4, 2018.
Minnesota has thrived with Rossi leading the defense, and the Gophers are 26-11 since he took over with four games left in 2018. In addition, the Gophers have routinely placed Rossi-coached players in the NFL, as eight defensive players (Boye Mafe, Esezi Otomewo, Benjamin St-Juste, Antoine Winfield Jr., Kamal Martin, Carter Coughlin, Chris Williamson and Blake Cashman) have been selected since 2019.
In 2021, Rossi, who was a nominee for the Broyles Award, led a resurgent Minnesota defense that was one of the best in the nation and one of the most dominant in the history of the program The Gophers ranked third in the nation in total defense at 278.8 yards per game (best since 1966, 225.1 yards per game), tied for sixth in the NCAA in scoring defense at 17.31 points per game (best since 1977, 15.5 points per game) and ranked eighth in the nation in rushing defense at 97.5 yards per game (best since 1962, 52.2 rushing yards per game).
Minnesota's family room defense was led by All-Big Ten Second Team member Boye Mafe and fellow Honorable Mention selections Esezi Otomewo, Mariano Sori-Marin, Jack Gibbens and Tyler Nubin. Mafe is one of the most explosive players in program history and his 15 career sacks ranks ninth all-time in school history.
Rossi coordinated a young defense in 2020, which was routinely missing individuals as Minnesota navigated the Covid-19 pandemic. Minnesota allowed 20 points or less in three games and finished the season with back-to-back games of allowing only 17 and 20 points, as it improved throughout the season.
In 2019, the Gophers ranked tenth in the nation in total defense by allowing only 306.6 yards per game, which was then the program's fewest amount since 1977. Minnesota, which yielded only 22.5 points per game, was ninth in the nation in passing yards allowed (184.2) and 23rd in rushing defense (122.4). The Gophers were 17th in the country in interceptions (14) and 24th in first downs defense (229).
Rossi coached some of the best to ever wear the Maroon and Gold in Winfield Jr. and Coughlin. Winfield was named the school's seventh unanimous First Team All-American and tied a school record with seven interceptions. He was also named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team and was one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is given to the best defensive player in college football.
Coughlin was named All-Big Ten Second Team in both 2018 and 2019 under Rossi and ended his career third in school history in sacks (22.5) and fourth in tackles for loss (40.0).
In 2018, Rossi took over the defense with three games left in the regular season. Minnesota beat Purdue in his first game at the helm and held the Boilermakers to season lows in points (10) and yards (233). The Gophers ended the regular season with a road win at Wisconsin and limited the Badgers to just 15 points, which was their fewest amount of points scored at home since totaling only seven against Northwestern in 2015. After the game, Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck removed the interim title from Rossi in the locker room and named him the team's full-time defensive coordinator.
Minnesota ended the season with a bowl win against Georgia Tech. The Gophers held Tech's potent offense to 283 total yards and only 10 points.
Rossi spent 2012-15 at Rutgers, which included two years as the defensive coordinator. Rossi was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2014 after serving in an interim role in 2013 and held the role until after the 2015 season. He was the special teams coordinator at Rutgers from 2012-13.
In 2013, Rutgers scored five special teams touchdowns (two kickoff returns, one punt return, one blocked punt return and one fake field goal) and true freshman Janarion Grant earned All-AAC Second Team honors as a return specialist.
The Scarlet Knights put together a strong special teams unit in 2012, ranking first in the nation with eight blocked kicks, ninth in kickoff return yardage defense (18.09) and 34th in kickoff return average (23.21).
Rossi was at Maine from 2007-11 and took over as defensive coordinator after the 2008 season. Maine annually had one of the top defensive units in the Football Championship Subdivision under Rossi. In 2011, the Black Bears ranked No. 26 in the nation in sacks, No. 31 in pass defense and No. 25 in pass efficiency defense.
Rossi’s first coaching stop was at Division III Thiel College in Greenville, Pa., where he was from 2001-2006. He coached Thiel's defensive line from 2001-02 and was the defensive coordinator from 2003-06. In 2006, Thiel led the President's Athletic Conference in scoring defense, total defense, rush defense and pass defense.
Rossi graduated from Allegheny in 2001 with a degree in history. He played defensive line for the Gators and his 12 sacks in 2000 is tied for the program record for the most in one season. Rossi was named All-NCAC three times (first team in 1999 and 2000 and second team in 1998) and started all 41 games of his collegiate career. His was team captain in 2000 and his 23 career sacks ranks fourth in program history.
Rossi and his wife, Lynsey, have two sons, Nico and Luca.
ROSSI AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2018-present: Minnesota - Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers (named Defensive Coordinator on Nov. 24, 2018)
2018: Minnesota - Defensive Line (named Interim Defensive Coordinator on Nov. 4, 2018)
2017: Minnesota - Quality Control
2014-15: Rutgers - Defensive Coordinator / Safeties
2012-13: Rutgers - Special Teams Coordinator
2009-11: Maine - Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
2007-08: Maine - Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Backs
2003-06: Thiel College - Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
2001-02: Thiel College - Defensive Line
Bowls Coached
2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Minnesota)
2020 Outback Bowl (Minnesota)
2018 Quick Lane Bowl (Minnesota)
2014 Quick Lane Bowl (Rutgers)
2013 Pinstripe Bowl (Rutgers)
2012 Russell Athletic Bowl (Rutgers)
Playing Experience: Allegheny College (defensive line), 1997-2000
Birthday: April 5, 1979
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
High School: Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 1997
Alma Mater: Allegheny College, 2001 (history)
Wife: Lynsey
Sons: Nico, Luca
- Sixth year at Minnesota, fourth full season as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach (21st year overall in coaching)
- 2021 nominee for the Broyles Award (presented annually to the best assistant coach in college football)
- Gophers' defense in 2021 ranked third in the nation in total defense, tied for sixth in scoring defense and eighth in the nation in rushing defense
- In 2019, Antoine Winfield Jr. was named the school's seventh unanimous First Team All-American, the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team and was one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award
- Eight NFL draft picks since 2019
- Coached 10 All-Big Ten honorees
Joe Rossi joined the Minnesota football staff in January 2017 and has served in a number of different roles before being named the team's defensive coordinator / linebackers coach on Nov. 24, 2018.
Rossi worked as a quality control assistant in 2017, and was then named defensive line coach prior to the 2018 season and was then named interim defensive coordinator on Nov. 4, 2018.
Minnesota has thrived with Rossi leading the defense, and the Gophers are 26-11 since he took over with four games left in 2018. In addition, the Gophers have routinely placed Rossi-coached players in the NFL, as eight defensive players (Boye Mafe, Esezi Otomewo, Benjamin St-Juste, Antoine Winfield Jr., Kamal Martin, Carter Coughlin, Chris Williamson and Blake Cashman) have been selected since 2019.
In 2021, Rossi, who was a nominee for the Broyles Award, led a resurgent Minnesota defense that was one of the best in the nation and one of the most dominant in the history of the program The Gophers ranked third in the nation in total defense at 278.8 yards per game (best since 1966, 225.1 yards per game), tied for sixth in the NCAA in scoring defense at 17.31 points per game (best since 1977, 15.5 points per game) and ranked eighth in the nation in rushing defense at 97.5 yards per game (best since 1962, 52.2 rushing yards per game).
Minnesota's family room defense was led by All-Big Ten Second Team member Boye Mafe and fellow Honorable Mention selections Esezi Otomewo, Mariano Sori-Marin, Jack Gibbens and Tyler Nubin. Mafe is one of the most explosive players in program history and his 15 career sacks ranks ninth all-time in school history.
Rossi coordinated a young defense in 2020, which was routinely missing individuals as Minnesota navigated the Covid-19 pandemic. Minnesota allowed 20 points or less in three games and finished the season with back-to-back games of allowing only 17 and 20 points, as it improved throughout the season.
In 2019, the Gophers ranked tenth in the nation in total defense by allowing only 306.6 yards per game, which was then the program's fewest amount since 1977. Minnesota, which yielded only 22.5 points per game, was ninth in the nation in passing yards allowed (184.2) and 23rd in rushing defense (122.4). The Gophers were 17th in the country in interceptions (14) and 24th in first downs defense (229).
Rossi coached some of the best to ever wear the Maroon and Gold in Winfield Jr. and Coughlin. Winfield was named the school's seventh unanimous First Team All-American and tied a school record with seven interceptions. He was also named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team and was one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is given to the best defensive player in college football.
Coughlin was named All-Big Ten Second Team in both 2018 and 2019 under Rossi and ended his career third in school history in sacks (22.5) and fourth in tackles for loss (40.0).
In 2018, Rossi took over the defense with three games left in the regular season. Minnesota beat Purdue in his first game at the helm and held the Boilermakers to season lows in points (10) and yards (233). The Gophers ended the regular season with a road win at Wisconsin and limited the Badgers to just 15 points, which was their fewest amount of points scored at home since totaling only seven against Northwestern in 2015. After the game, Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck removed the interim title from Rossi in the locker room and named him the team's full-time defensive coordinator.
Minnesota ended the season with a bowl win against Georgia Tech. The Gophers held Tech's potent offense to 283 total yards and only 10 points.
Rossi spent 2012-15 at Rutgers, which included two years as the defensive coordinator. Rossi was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2014 after serving in an interim role in 2013 and held the role until after the 2015 season. He was the special teams coordinator at Rutgers from 2012-13.
In 2013, Rutgers scored five special teams touchdowns (two kickoff returns, one punt return, one blocked punt return and one fake field goal) and true freshman Janarion Grant earned All-AAC Second Team honors as a return specialist.
The Scarlet Knights put together a strong special teams unit in 2012, ranking first in the nation with eight blocked kicks, ninth in kickoff return yardage defense (18.09) and 34th in kickoff return average (23.21).
Rossi was at Maine from 2007-11 and took over as defensive coordinator after the 2008 season. Maine annually had one of the top defensive units in the Football Championship Subdivision under Rossi. In 2011, the Black Bears ranked No. 26 in the nation in sacks, No. 31 in pass defense and No. 25 in pass efficiency defense.
Rossi’s first coaching stop was at Division III Thiel College in Greenville, Pa., where he was from 2001-2006. He coached Thiel's defensive line from 2001-02 and was the defensive coordinator from 2003-06. In 2006, Thiel led the President's Athletic Conference in scoring defense, total defense, rush defense and pass defense.
Rossi graduated from Allegheny in 2001 with a degree in history. He played defensive line for the Gators and his 12 sacks in 2000 is tied for the program record for the most in one season. Rossi was named All-NCAC three times (first team in 1999 and 2000 and second team in 1998) and started all 41 games of his collegiate career. His was team captain in 2000 and his 23 career sacks ranks fourth in program history.
Rossi and his wife, Lynsey, have two sons, Nico and Luca.
ROSSI AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2018-present: Minnesota - Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers (named Defensive Coordinator on Nov. 24, 2018)
2018: Minnesota - Defensive Line (named Interim Defensive Coordinator on Nov. 4, 2018)
2017: Minnesota - Quality Control
2014-15: Rutgers - Defensive Coordinator / Safeties
2012-13: Rutgers - Special Teams Coordinator
2009-11: Maine - Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
2007-08: Maine - Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Backs
2003-06: Thiel College - Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
2001-02: Thiel College - Defensive Line
Bowls Coached
2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Minnesota)
2020 Outback Bowl (Minnesota)
2018 Quick Lane Bowl (Minnesota)
2014 Quick Lane Bowl (Rutgers)
2013 Pinstripe Bowl (Rutgers)
2012 Russell Athletic Bowl (Rutgers)
Playing Experience: Allegheny College (defensive line), 1997-2000
Birthday: April 5, 1979
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
High School: Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 1997
Alma Mater: Allegheny College, 2001 (history)
Wife: Lynsey
Sons: Nico, Luca
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Rout Demons
Tuesday, September 09
Highlights: Gophers 66, Northwestern State 0
Saturday, September 06
Sights & Sounds: Gophers-Demons
Saturday, September 06
Game Trailer: Gophers-Demons
Friday, September 05
