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Elko Announces Santucci as Defensive Coordinator
1/24/2023 6:00:00 PM | Football
DURHAM – Duke head football coach Mike Elko announced Tuesday that Tyler Santucci will join the Blue Devil gridiron program as the defensive coordinator. Santucci also will coach Duke's linebackers.
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"I am excited to welcome Tyler, his wife Arielle, and their daughter Liana into our Duke football family," Elko said. "I've known Tyler for quite a while and I'm confident he'll be a great fit for us here in Durham. His work ethic, leadership, passion and understanding of the sport made him an easy choice for this opportunity. I am eager to see our defense reach new heights under his direction."
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Santucci and Elko have served together on three previous defensive staffs, most recently at Texas A&M in 2020 and 2021, where Santucci was the linebackers coach. The pair also spent time together at Notre Dame and Wake Forest.
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"My family and I are grateful for the opportunity to join this prestigious university and football program here at Duke," Santucci said. "I would like to thank Coach Elko and Nina King for believing in me to lead and coordinate the defense. Coach Elko and staff have done a remarkable job over this past year of laying the foundation for the future of the Duke football program. I am looking forward to building and sustaining meaningful relationships with our student-athletes as we help them chase their dreams. My wife Arielle, daughter Liana, and myself could not be more excited to begin the next chapter of our lives in Bull City."
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Santucci comes to Durham after a one-year stint as the co-defensive coordinator at Texas A&M under head coach Jimbo Fisher. Before being promoted in 2022, he spent two seasons as the Aggies' linebackers coach, helping them to a 17-5 ledger and an invitation to the 2020 Capital One Orange and 2021 Taxslayer Gator Bowls.
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During his time at Texas A&M, Santucci helped the Aggies defense to a No. 3 national ranking in scoring defense (15.92), as well as the No. 7 red zone defense (.710) in 2021. The year prior, he helped the Aggies lead the SEC and rank among the top 10 in the nation in total defense (317.3), while boasting a top-three ranking in the country in rushing defense (92.0). Texas A&M would cap off its 2020 nine-win season with a 41-27 victory over No. 13 North Carolina in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
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Santucci spent the 2019 season as the inside linebackers coach at Wake Forest under head coach Dave Clawson. In his second stint with the Demon Deacons, he helped Wake Forest to an 8-4 record and an appearance in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. In addition, he mentored Justin Strnad to All-ACC honors after pacing the team in tackles per game in his final season. Santucci also served two seasons as a graduate assistant with the Demon Deacons, coaching the defensive line (2014) and linebackers (2015).
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In 2018, Santucci made his first stop in College Station, serving as a defensive analyst for the Aggies' newly appointed defensive coordinator Elko. The pair helped the Aggies to a 9-3 record and a 52-13 victory over N.C. State in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl, while seeing the Texas A&M defense rank in the top 50 nationally for the first time in more than a decade.
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Santucci and Elko worked together in 2017 on Brian Kelly's staff at Notre Dame. The Irish finished 10-3 during his lone season as a defensive analyst that included a 21-17 win over LSU in the 2017 Citrus Bowl. Additionally, the Irish improved at least 20 spots in the national rankings in rushing defense (72nd to 51st), pass efficiency defense (79th to 46th), scoring defense (62nd to 31st), third down defense (60th to 37th), turnovers gained (104th to 50th), sacks (117th to 82nd) and tackles for loss (102nd to 58th).
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Before his time at Notre Dame, Santucci had a one-year stint as the linebackers coach at Texas State University. While with the Bobcats in 2016, he mentored Bryan London II and Gabe Lloyd to postseason honors. London was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Newcomer Team, while Lloyd was an All-Sun Belt pick by the league's head coaches.
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Santucci began his coaching career his alma mater, Stony Brook, where he served four seasons. His first two years were spent as a graduate assistant working with the linebackers (2010) and defensive line (2011). In his final two years, Santucci was promoted to an assistant coach working with the safeties (2012) and defensive line (2013).
A native of New Kensington, Pa., Santucci graduated from Stony Brook with a bachelor's degree in sociology in 2010. He was a four-year letterwinner in football (2006-07-08-09), earning Second Team All-America honors by the Associated Press after a senior season in which he led the Seawolves with 93 tackles. He was a two-time All-Big South Conference selection and tabbed the 2009 Big South Defensive Player of the Year. Santucci finished his career with 284 tackles, which was fourth all-time in school history at the time of his graduation, and was an integral part of Stony Brook's first Big South Championship team in 2009. In December 2013, Santucci was recognized as one of the top student-athletes of his era as he was selected to the Big South All-Decade Team. In 2022, Santucci was one of eight inducted into the Stony Brook Hall of Fame.
He is married to the former Arielle Meringolo of Long Island, N.Y., and the couple has one daughter, Liana.
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THE TYLER SANTUCCI FILE
Hometown: New Kensington, Pennsylvania.
Education: Stony Brook, 2010 (Sociology)
Wife: Arielle
Children: Liana
Birthday: May 29, 1988
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SANTUCCI'S COACHING CAREER
#GoDuke
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"I am excited to welcome Tyler, his wife Arielle, and their daughter Liana into our Duke football family," Elko said. "I've known Tyler for quite a while and I'm confident he'll be a great fit for us here in Durham. His work ethic, leadership, passion and understanding of the sport made him an easy choice for this opportunity. I am eager to see our defense reach new heights under his direction."
Â
Santucci and Elko have served together on three previous defensive staffs, most recently at Texas A&M in 2020 and 2021, where Santucci was the linebackers coach. The pair also spent time together at Notre Dame and Wake Forest.
Â
"My family and I are grateful for the opportunity to join this prestigious university and football program here at Duke," Santucci said. "I would like to thank Coach Elko and Nina King for believing in me to lead and coordinate the defense. Coach Elko and staff have done a remarkable job over this past year of laying the foundation for the future of the Duke football program. I am looking forward to building and sustaining meaningful relationships with our student-athletes as we help them chase their dreams. My wife Arielle, daughter Liana, and myself could not be more excited to begin the next chapter of our lives in Bull City."
Â
Santucci comes to Durham after a one-year stint as the co-defensive coordinator at Texas A&M under head coach Jimbo Fisher. Before being promoted in 2022, he spent two seasons as the Aggies' linebackers coach, helping them to a 17-5 ledger and an invitation to the 2020 Capital One Orange and 2021 Taxslayer Gator Bowls.
Â
During his time at Texas A&M, Santucci helped the Aggies defense to a No. 3 national ranking in scoring defense (15.92), as well as the No. 7 red zone defense (.710) in 2021. The year prior, he helped the Aggies lead the SEC and rank among the top 10 in the nation in total defense (317.3), while boasting a top-three ranking in the country in rushing defense (92.0). Texas A&M would cap off its 2020 nine-win season with a 41-27 victory over No. 13 North Carolina in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
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Santucci spent the 2019 season as the inside linebackers coach at Wake Forest under head coach Dave Clawson. In his second stint with the Demon Deacons, he helped Wake Forest to an 8-4 record and an appearance in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. In addition, he mentored Justin Strnad to All-ACC honors after pacing the team in tackles per game in his final season. Santucci also served two seasons as a graduate assistant with the Demon Deacons, coaching the defensive line (2014) and linebackers (2015).
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In 2018, Santucci made his first stop in College Station, serving as a defensive analyst for the Aggies' newly appointed defensive coordinator Elko. The pair helped the Aggies to a 9-3 record and a 52-13 victory over N.C. State in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl, while seeing the Texas A&M defense rank in the top 50 nationally for the first time in more than a decade.
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Santucci and Elko worked together in 2017 on Brian Kelly's staff at Notre Dame. The Irish finished 10-3 during his lone season as a defensive analyst that included a 21-17 win over LSU in the 2017 Citrus Bowl. Additionally, the Irish improved at least 20 spots in the national rankings in rushing defense (72nd to 51st), pass efficiency defense (79th to 46th), scoring defense (62nd to 31st), third down defense (60th to 37th), turnovers gained (104th to 50th), sacks (117th to 82nd) and tackles for loss (102nd to 58th).
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Before his time at Notre Dame, Santucci had a one-year stint as the linebackers coach at Texas State University. While with the Bobcats in 2016, he mentored Bryan London II and Gabe Lloyd to postseason honors. London was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Newcomer Team, while Lloyd was an All-Sun Belt pick by the league's head coaches.
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Santucci began his coaching career his alma mater, Stony Brook, where he served four seasons. His first two years were spent as a graduate assistant working with the linebackers (2010) and defensive line (2011). In his final two years, Santucci was promoted to an assistant coach working with the safeties (2012) and defensive line (2013).
A native of New Kensington, Pa., Santucci graduated from Stony Brook with a bachelor's degree in sociology in 2010. He was a four-year letterwinner in football (2006-07-08-09), earning Second Team All-America honors by the Associated Press after a senior season in which he led the Seawolves with 93 tackles. He was a two-time All-Big South Conference selection and tabbed the 2009 Big South Defensive Player of the Year. Santucci finished his career with 284 tackles, which was fourth all-time in school history at the time of his graduation, and was an integral part of Stony Brook's first Big South Championship team in 2009. In December 2013, Santucci was recognized as one of the top student-athletes of his era as he was selected to the Big South All-Decade Team. In 2022, Santucci was one of eight inducted into the Stony Brook Hall of Fame.
He is married to the former Arielle Meringolo of Long Island, N.Y., and the couple has one daughter, Liana.
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THE TYLER SANTUCCI FILE
Hometown: New Kensington, Pennsylvania.
Education: Stony Brook, 2010 (Sociology)
Wife: Arielle
Children: Liana
Birthday: May 29, 1988
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SANTUCCI'S COACHING CAREER
- 2023-pres. – Duke (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
- 2022 – Texas A&M (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
- 2020-21 – Texas A&M (Linebackers)
- 2019 – Wake Forest (Linebackers)
- 2018 – Texas A&M (Defensive Analyst)
- 2017 – Notre Dame (Defensive Analyst)
- 2016 – Texas State (Linebackers)
- 2015 – Wake Forest (Graduate Assistant/Linebackers)
- 2014 – Wake Forest (Graduate Assistant/Defensive Line)
- 2013 – Stony Brook (Defensive Line)
- 2012 – Stony Brook (Safeties)
- 2011 – Stony Brook (Graduate Assistant/Defensive Line)
- 2010 – Stony Brook (Graduate Assistant/Linebackers)
#GoDuke
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