There's something about Jon Tenuta that doesn't seem to keep him in one place for very long.
Since starting out as a graduate assistant at Virginia in 1981, he's now been a grad assistant, coach or coordinator at 12 different schools in 11 states. This time, his move lands him back in the ACC, where he played at Virginia and coached at North Carolina (2001) and Georgia Tech (2002-07). New resume entry: linebackers coach at North Carolina State.
He comes to Raleigh from Notre Dame, where he was the defensive coordinator the past two seasons. In 2009, the Irish defense slid from 38th in total defense to 86th, which contributed to the firing of head coach Charlie Weis.
Still, Tenuta remains a well-respected name in coaching circles and he had a good deal of success as coordinator at both UNC and Georgia Tech, where his defenses consistently ranked in the top 20 against the run. He said getting back to the conference where he had so much success a few years ago was an opportunity he had to take.
"It's good for me," Tenuta said. "I've coached in the conference, I've played in the conference. All conferences have their own images. I don't get into comparing conferences. I was in this conference for seven straight years. I spent two years at Notre Dame and came back. It's something I'm familiar with."
Just as he knows well the vagabond nature of coaching. Getting to know a new set of players and a new staff of coaches is a process he's grown familiar with over the years. While it can be a challenge, he said it's worth the effort to continue doing what he loves.
"I think it's like anything else," Tenuta said. "You have to learn them and they have to learn you. They have to adjust to how you do things. The [State] staff has been intact here for awhile. The big thing is you have to enjoy coaching and teaching these guys."
He will have plenty of that ahead. State ranked 55th in total defense in 2009, which is one reason he was drawn to third-year head coach Tom O'Brien and defensive coordinator Mike Archer.
All three have ties to UVA and have spent extensive time in the ACC, crossing paths often over the past few decades.
"It's like any profession. It's the people that you know and the people you have respect for," Tenuta said. "You get to see them maybe once a year at the convention. When you have familiarities in the aspect of knowing somebody, it makes it easier in the transitional period."
They'll have a little bit of time to get adjusted. The Wolfpack opens up the season against Western Carolina before traveling to Central Florida and then hosting Cincinnati.
Tenuta will coach his first game in Atlanta since leaving the Jackets on Sept. 25 when State visits Georgia Tech.
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