Introducing the Coaches: “A True Rising Star” is Indiana quarterback coach Tino Sunseri.

Tino Sunseri, the quarterbacks coach at Indiana, began his career at some of the top schools in the country, Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida State. With head coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana, he hopes to build on the success he experienced at James Madison.

Bloomington, Indiana: Cole Johnson, the quarterback for James Madison, had a fantastic senior year in 2021 during his sixth year.

He broke the single-season marks held by James Madison for completions (287), touchdowns (41) and throwing yards (3,779). In terms of throwing yards, he was seventh in the FCS, and his four interceptions were less than those of every quarterback before him.

However, quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri, who succeeded head coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana as the Hoosiers’ co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, insisted for perfection, which kept Monday’s film sessions humble.

In an interview with Hoosiers Now, Johnson stated, “You’d have five or six touchdowns and three incompletions, you’d come off feeling good about yourself, we did a great job.” After that, even when you threw a touchdown, Tino,

the ultimate critic, would say, “I told you you had a three-step [drop] and a hitch there, and you took a three-step and two hitches.”

Throughout his football career, Johnson was accustomed to receiving harsh criticism from coaches after games, so he never thought Sunseri was being unkind. He saw Sunseri’s desire to assist him in getting better in this constructive feedback. Additionally, they could relate to one other more on a personal level because Sunseri had been in similar situation himself when playing quarterback for Pittsburgh from 2008 to 2012.

Johnson remarked, “Tino has a unique ability to be constructively critical without demeaning or putting you down.” He’s really upbeat and optimistic, and it’s a terrific approach to support your development. You recognize that he only has your best interests in mind.

As a sixth-year senior, Johnson helped James Madison go 12-2 and make it to the FCS playoff semifinals by being among the top five FCS quarterbacks in passing yards, touchdowns, completion %, and pass efficiency. Among many other honors, he was selected CAA Offensive Player of the Year, CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year, and second-team All-American.

After Johnson graduated, Sunseri developed two more quarterbacks in as many seasons with comparable success. Quarterback Todd Centeio led James Madison win the Sun Belt East division and was awarded Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year as the team made the transition from FCS to FBS. James Madison was 11-1 in 2023, and quarterback Jordan McCloud was voted Sun Belt Player of the Year.