Pelini's coaching background includes nine years in the NFL coaching for the San Francisco 49ers, the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers. Pelini broke into the NFL in 1994 as assistant secondary coach for head coach George Seifert and the 49ers. Originally hired as a scouting assistant, Pelini was quickly promoted to defensive backs coach in the spring of 1994. Less than a year after his promotion to defensive backs coach, Pelini was coaching in the Super Bowl, helping the 49ers to a 49-26 win over San Diego in Super Bowl XXIX. Pelini held that position for three years before moving to the Patriots for the 1997 season.

As a member of the Patriots staff, Pelini coached the linebackers under head coach Pete Carroll. Pelini helped the Patriots go 27-21 over a three-year period with the club making the playoffs twice. Pelini's efforts were highlighted with a Pro Bowl appearance by Chris Slade in 1997, the first Patriot linebacker to be named All-Pro since 1989.

After three years with the Patriots, Pelini moved to the Packers, coaching linebackers for three seasons. In three years in Green Bay with head coach Mike Sherman, the Packers posted a 33-15 record and advanced twice. In 2002, the Packer defense ranked fourth in the NFL in pass defense, allowing 188.4 yards per game.

Pelini got his start in coaching in 1991, serving as a graduate assistant coach at Iowa. From there he moved into the high school ranks, serving as quarterbacks coach at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio in 1993 before taking the leap to the 49ers.

As a player, Pelini was a standout free safety at Ohio State, earning four letters from 1987-90. He helped the Buckeyes to a 15-8 record over his final two seasons. He was a three-time selection to the Academic All-Big Ten team as well as serving as team captain for the Buckeyes as a senior  in 1990. He played in two bowl games during his collegiate career, appearing in the Hall of Fame Bowl in January of 1990 and the Liberty Bowl in December of 1990.

Pelini is a 1990 graduate of Ohio State. He and his wife, Mary Pat, have one son, Patrick, and two daughters, Kate, and Caralyn.

The Bo Pelini File
Year at LSU: Second
Birthdate: December 13, 1967 in Youngstown, Ohio
Wife: Mary Pat
Children: Patrick, Kate, and Caralyn
High School: Cardinal Mooney, '86
College: Ohio State, '90

Playing Experience
1987-90 Ohio State (free safety)

Coaching Experience
1991 Iowa (graduate assistant)
1993 Cardinal Mooney High School (quarterbacks)
1994-96 San Francisco 49ers (defensive backs)
1997-99 New England Patriots (linebackers)
2000-02 Green Bay Packers (linebackers)
2003 Nebraska (defensive coordinator, interim head coach for Alamo Bowl)
2004 Oklahoma (co-defensive coordinator, defensive backs)
2005-07 LSU (defensive coordinator)

Head Coaching Experience
2003 Nebraska 1-0 def. Michigan State, 17-3 in Alamo Bowl

Bowl and Playoff Experience
As a player
1990 Hall of Fame Bowl (lost to Auburn, 31-14)
1990 Liberty Bowl (lost to Air Force, 23-11)

As a coach
1991 Holiday Bowl (Iowa tied BYU, 13-13)
1995 AFC Divisional Playoffs (49ers def. Bears, 44-15
1995 AFC Conference Finals (49ers def. Cowboys, 38-28)
1995 Super Bowl XXIX (49ers def. Chargers, 49-26)
1996 AFC Divisional Playoffs (49ers lost to Packers, 27-17)
1997 AFC Wild Card Game (49ers def. Eagles, 14-0)
1997 AFC Divisional Playoffs (49ers lost to Packers, 35-14)
1998 AFC Divisional Playoffs (Patriots lost to Steelers, 7-6)
1999 AFC Wild Card Game (Patriots lost to Jaguars, 25-10)
2002 NFC Wild Card Game (Packers def. 49ers, 25-15)
2002 NFC Divisional Playoffs (Packers lost to Rams, 45-17)
2003 NFC Divisional Playoffs (Packers lost to Falcons, 27-7)
2003 Alamo Bowl (Nebraska def. Michigan State, 17-3 – interim head coach)
2004 Orange Bowl (Oklahoma lost to USC, 55-19)
2005 Peach Bowl (LSU def. Miami, 40-3)
2007 Sugar Bowl (LSU def. Notre Dame, 41-14)