Tony Pecoraro is in his third fourth with McNeese as defensive coordinator and will coach the linebackers.
In his previous three seasons with the Cowboys, Coach Pec coached and helped develop two All-American linebackers (Kordell Williams, Micah Davey) and five All-Southland Conference defensive selections.
His 2024 Cowboys’ defense led the Southland Conference in passing defense (2115 yards, 176.3 avg.) and was third in scoring (23.2 ppg). McNeese help opposing QBs to just 49 percent passing (178 for 365) and gave up 15 passing TDs, second-fewest in the league. McNeese also ranked second in the conference in red zone defense at 69.8 percent.
In 2023, Coach Pec helped mold Consensus All-American linebacker Micah Davey into one of the best tackles in all of FCS. Davey finished the season ranking No. 1 in the nation in total tackles (153), tackles per game (15.3) and solo tackles per game (8.3), all with a 10-game season. Davey was named an All-American by six different organizations, including first team honors by the AFCA and Walter Camp. He also finished seventh in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award which is presented to the top defensive player in the FCS.
Coach Pec came to McNeese in 2022 after spending the 2021 season at South Alabama and has had stops at Kansas, Florida Atlantic, Southern Mississippi, Alcorn State, North Alabama, Webber International and Florida State, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.
Prior to his year at South Alabama as a quality control analyst, Pecoraro served his second stint at Southern Miss in 2020. Before then, he was a quality control analyst at Kansas. In 2018, he was defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Florida Atlantic.
Pecoraro, in his first Southern Miss stop, helped lead two Top 20 total defenses nationally.
He guided the defense to a No. 15 ranking in his first season. Southern Miss played in the 2016 R&L Carrier New Orleans Bowl where the defense was led by All-Conference defensive linemen Dylan Bradley and Xavier Thigpen, and linebackers D’Nerius Antoine and Elijah Parker.
The 2017 Southern Miss team, which finished No. 20 nationally in total defense, participated in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl and were led defensively by C-USA selections Thigpen and Curtis Mikell.
Before going to Southern Miss, Pecoraro worked as Alcorn State’s defensive coordinator, a position he held for four seasons. His efforts at Alcorn State helped to lead the Braves to two Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and was instrumental in helping lead the Braves to the 2014 HBCU National Championship.
Prior to his stint in Lorman, Pecoraro served a two-year stint at North Alabama as defensive coordinator. Pecoraro had an integral part in North Alabama’s success, producing five All-Americans and 11 All-Gulf States Conference players. In both seasons at North Alabama, Pecoraro helped lead the Lions to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Prior to North Alabama, Pecoraro earned his stripes during eight years of collegiate coaching, including five seasons over two separate stints at Florida State (2002-03, 2005-08).
During his tenure at FSU, Pecoraro was a part of Atlantic Coast Conference championship teams in 2002-03. The Seminoles played in five bowl games during Pecoraro’s time in Tallahassee, including the Nokia Sugar Bowl in 2003, the FedEx Orange Bowl in 2004, the Music City Bowl in 2007, the Champs Sports Bowl in 2008 and the Gator Bowl in 2009.
Pecoraro began his collegiate coaching career at Webber International University in Babson Park, Fla., where he worked as a graduate assistant from 2004-05. In 2006, Pecoraro was promoted to a full-time position, coaching the defensive line and serving as recruiting coordinator. During this time, Pecoraro also earned his M.B.A.
In his first experience with FSU, Pecoraro served as a student assistant from the 2002-03 season working directly with the quarterbacks. He also earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management.
Pecoraro is married to the former Tania Fernandez, and have a son, Rocky Tarim and a daughter, Isabella Amore.
