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Charlie Strong adds 10th assistant to USF staff

Tommy Restivo, who worked for Strong at Louisville and Florida, re-joins him on the Bulls staff.
 
Published Feb. 28, 2018|Updated Feb. 28, 2018

South Carolina State defensive coordinator Tommy Restivo, who previously worked for Charlie Strong at Louisville and Florida, has been hired as USF's 10th assistant coach.

Restivo will coach safeties and is expected to assist with special teams, which struggled at times in 2017. South Carolina State allowed six blocked kicks last season, which tied for 118th in Division I-AA.

USF begins spring practice Monday.

"Tommy has great passion and energy for coaching and brings some tremendous experience, having served as a defensive coordinator at two different programs," Strong said in a statement released by the school. "He will be a great fit with our staff and our players at USF."

A Toledo, Ohio, native and Georgetown (Ky.) College alumnus, Restivo served two stints (2014-15, 2017) as South Carolina State coordinator. The Bulldogs ranked eighth in Division I-AA in total defense (279.9 ypg), eighth against the run (92.8 ypg) and seventh in pass-efficiency defense (104.27) last season.

His '15 unit ranked sixth in total defense. He spent the '16 season as defensive coordinator at McNeese State, which finished 48th nationally in total defense (372.2 ypg).

Prior to arriving at S.C. State, he spent four years (2010-13) with Strong at Louisville, first as a defensive quality-control coach then as secondary coach. He was a defensive quality-control assistant for Florida's 2008 team (Strong was co-defensive coordinator) that won a national title.