Cignetti Announces Staff Reorganization and Additions for 2021 Season

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Head Coach Curt Cignetti announced Tuesday the reorganization to his football coaching staff, as well as a new hire on the offensive side of the ball.

Cignetti has hired Tino Sunseri as the program's new quarterbacks coach. Sunseri comes to Harrisonburg after spending the last two-and-a-half years on the staff at Alabama, where he served as an offensive analyst, working primarily with the quarterbacks.

The Crimson Tide went 24-2 the last two years, which included going 13-0 in 2020 and winning the College Football Playoff National Championship. He worked closely with a pair of NFL first-round draft picks in Tua Tagaviola and Mac Jones. This past season, Jones set the national completion percentage record (77.4%) on their way to the national title.

Prior to Alabama, Sunseri spent the 2018 season at Tennessee and nearly two years assisting Jimbo Fisher with the quarterbacks at Florida State.

"I'm really excited about the staff reorganization and the positive impact it will have on the program moving forward," Cignetti said. "Tino Sunseri has learned from some of the most respected minds in college football. He comes from a nationally-respected football family and received glowing recommendations from Alabama, particularly coach Steve Sarkisian, the new head coach at the University at Texas, who worked most closely with Tino."

"I'm so excited, I feel blessed. I'm thankful to Coach Cignetti for allowing me the opportunity to run the quarterback room," Sunseri said. "I know there's a great standard of excellence here with a program that's used to winning and has a tradition of winning. I can't wait to be able to help them accomplish their goals and dreams and develop young men on and off the field."

In addition to Cignetti's new hire, he also announced staff role changes, involving Mike Shanahan, Damian Wroblewski, Marcus Hall-Oliver, Eddie Whitley Jr. and Corey Hetherman.

"Mike Shanahan is more than ready to take over an increased role as offensive coordinator," Cignetti said. "I liked the direction the offense took the last five weeks of the season and have confidence that the progress will be expanded upon. Damian Wroblewski will add the title of Associate Head Coach for offense and work in more a senior advisor role in addition to his offensive line duties."

He continued, "On defense, Marcus Hall-Oliver, an extremely bright coach with a tremendous future, will now coach our safeties. Marcus has experience with defensive backs, linebackers and defensive line. Eddie Whitley Jr. will focus more on the rover position, which requires a unique skillset in teaching progression than safety. In addition, defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman will take on the title of Associate Head Football Coach."

With the completion of the football coaching staff and incoming recruiting class, Cignetti and the Dukes look forward to the 2021 season, which kicks off on Sept. 4.

"I'm really excited about our staff moving forward and equally excited about our fall roster, which currently includes 14 newcomers and the return of numerous significant contributors and starters who were unavailable for the entire spring or last half of the season."

2021 JMU Football Coaching Staff
Curt Cignetti – Head Coach
Corey Hetherman – Defensive Coordinator/Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line
Damian Wroblewski – Offensive Line/Associate Head Coach for Offense
Mike Shanahan – Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator
Bryant Haines – Linebackers/Co-Defensive Coordinator
Marcus Hall-Oliver – Defensive Backs – Safeties
Matt Birkett – Defensive Backs – Cornerbacks
Eddie Whitley Jr. – Defensive Backs – Rovers
Grant Cain – Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
John Miller – Running Backs
Tino Sunseri - Quarterbacks

Calendar