Colorado University Athletics
Football
Nov 1 (Sat)
5:00 p.m.
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Defensive Ends
- Email:
- Andy.LaRussa@Colorado.EDU
Andy LaRussa is in his second year at the University of Colorado, joining new head coach Mike MacIntyre’s staff on January 1, 2013.? He now coaches the defensive ends after working with the cornerbacks in his first season inBoulder.
LaRussa, 34, came to CU from San Jose State, where he coached the defensive backs, in particular the corners, and was the assistant special teams coordinator under MacIntyre for two seasons.?
In his first season at Colorado, the cornerbacks made six interceptions, their most as a group in seven seasons; junior Greg Henderson snared four of those, also the most by an individual since 2007.
He joined the Spartans’ staff after spring practice (in June 2011), but would have a successful first year despite not having the benefit of working with the players in the spring.? In his first season, his cornerbacks helped the team nearly double its turnovers gained (from 18 to 33).? SJSU’s top corner that season, Peyton Thompson, signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons.? In 2012, he helped coach first-team All-Western Athletic Conference performer Bene Benwikere, who tied for second in the NCAA with seven interceptions.
Prior to joining the San Jose State, he spent two seasons at Northern Arizona, where he coached the cornerbacks and all phases of the kicking game. He was an integral component of a defensive staff that produced the top-ranked team in the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense, rushing defense and quarterback sacks in 2010.? NAU was ranked in the top 25 in rushing defense (5th), quarterback sacks (10th), total defense (14th) and pass defense (22nd).? He produced four players who earned All-Big Sky Conference honors.
LaRussa broke into Division I coaching as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas under head coach Mike Sanford.? In four seasons from 2005-08, at one time he worked with the linemen, linebackers and secondary during his tenure, while also serving as was UNLV's assistant special teams coordinator, assistant video coordinator and assistant strength and conditioning coach.
He helped coach four Rebel players to All-Mountain West Conference honors, including the 2008 MWC Defensive Player of the Year in linebacker Beau Bell.? He was a fourth round draft selection by the Cleveland Browns in 2009, which two years earlier had drafted defensive back Eric Wright (second-team All-MWC) in the second round.? LaRussa also tutored defensive back Jay Staggs and tackle Malo Taumua, both honorable mention All-MWC performers.?
A defensive end and linebacker in college, he played for two seasons at Glendale (Calif.) College before transferring to Southern Utah University for his junior and senior years.? He played professionally for a brief time with the Ostia Marines of NFL Italy in the spring of both 2003 and 2004 and also was a member of the Italian National Team.
He also got his start in coaching with Ostia (defense and special teams) as well as at his high school alma mater, St. Francis in La Canada, Calif., where he was the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator for the 2003 and 2004 seasons once he returned to the states each year from overseas.
He graduated from Southern Utah with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education in December 2002, and while he was at UNLV, he took graduate courses toward a master’s in Education.
He was born June 11, 1980 in Reno, Nevada, and graduated from St. Francis, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball.? He is married to the former Briana Bernardi, and his hobbies including golfing.? He holds dual citizenship in the United States and Italy.
RECORD?He has coached in 37 Division I-A (FBS) games as a full-time coach, including one bowl game (2012 Military).
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COACHING EXPERIENCE |
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2005-08 |
UNLV |
Defensive / Special Teams Graduate Assistant |
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2009-10 |
Northern Arizona |
Cornerbacks / Special Teams |
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2011-12 |
San Jose State |
Cornerbacks / Assistant Special Teams Coordinator |
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2013 |
Colorado |
Defensive Ends |
