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Following a highly successful collegiate head coaching career, Paul Pasqualoni joined the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys staff in 2005. After guiding the Dallas tight ends in his first pro season, Pasqualoni has made the switch to the defensive side of the ball where he will handle the linebackers for Bill Parcells in 2006.
In guiding the Cowboys tight ends in 2005, Pasqualoni played a key role in the continued development of Jason Witten as one the NFL's premier players at the position.
As a third-year pro, Witten earned his second consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl after catching 66 passes for 757 yards and six touchdowns. He ranked second on the team in receptions and was third among NFC tight ends in catches (sixth in the NFL). Witten was fourth among NFC tight ends (seventh in the NFL) in receiving yardage and his 66 receptions enabled him to become just the second Dallas tight end to record back-to-back 60-catch seasons, joining Doug Cosbie (1984-85). Pasqualoni also oversaw the development of youngsters Sean Ryan and Brett Pierce and the continued production of veteran offensive team captain Dan Campbell.
Pasqualoni came to Dallas with 29 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 19 as a head coach. Most recently, he served a 14-year stint as the head coach at Syracuse University (1991-2004), where he compiled a 107-59-1 record (.644) and landed bowl invitations following nine of his 14 seasons, posting victories in six of those postseason appearances. The Orangemen captured three straight Big East Conference titles from 1996 to 1998 and were conference co-champions in 2004. Seven of his clubs finished the season ranked in the Top 25. Pasqualoni's most successful Syracuse seasons came in 1991 - when his squad went 10-2, including a win over Ohio State in the Hall of Fame Bowl, and finished the season 11th in the final AP poll - and 1992 - when the Orangemen closed the regular season with a 9-2 record, then defeated Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl to finish sixth in the final AP poll.
Under Pasqualoni's tutelage, the Orangemen developed a solid contingent of players, including 17 selections in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. The program sent future Pro Bowl players such as Olindo Mare, Marvin Harrison, Donovan McNabb, Dwight Freeney and Keith Bulluck to the pros. Overall, Syracuse produced at least two NFL draft selections in 11 of Pasqualoni's 14 years as head coach.
Prior to taking over as head coach at Syracuse in 1991, Pasqualoni was the school's linebackers coach from 1987 to 1990, thus helping the Orangemen to a winning record in 16 of the 18 years and 13 bowl games during the time he was associated with the university.
He was the head coach/athletic director at Western Connecticut State from 1982-86, compiling a 34-17 record. His 1985 squad went 10-2, won the New England Football Conference championship and earned a spot in the NCAA Division III playoffs. In 2001 Pasqualoni's accomplishments at Western Connecticut were recognized with his enshrinement into the school's Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class.
Pasqualoni began his coaching career at his alma mater, Cheshire, Conn., High School (1972-75). His first collegiate job was as an assistant at Southern Connecticut in 1976. In 1980, Pasqualoni was elevated to defensive coordinator. After serving two seasons in that capacity, he left for Western Connecticut.
Pasqualoni was a 1972 graduate of Penn State, where he lettered as a linebacker after walking on to the football team and earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education. He later went on to earn a master's of science degree in physical education and human performance at Southern Connecticut State.
Born on Aug. 16, 1949, Pasqualoni lettered in football and basketball at Cheshire High School in Connecticut and also earned a letter in football at Bordentown Military Institute. He and his wife, Jill, have two sons, Dante (1/17/99) and Tito (3/3/00), and a daughter, Cami (3/31/02). | 