Carl Pelini reinstated as Cardinal Mooney football coach, AD
One week after announcing Cardinal Mooney and Carl Pelini were parting ways, the school changed its mind and reinstated Pelini as head coach and athletic director there.
Why Cardinal Mooney school president Nicholas Beyer said he made the decision about Carl Pelini
School president Nicholas Beyer released a statement to alums and school parents Friday confirming the decision, which was rumored to have been made earlier this week.
“As you likely have heard, the decision was made for Carl Pelini to remain athletic director and head football coach, reversing my decision, announced last week not to renew his contract for the 2023-24 school year,” Beyer wrote in the message. “This unusual move requires an explanation to you, the Mooney Family.
“My charge since assuming the roles of president and principal eight months ago has been to move Mooney aggressively forward in its mission, elevate our academics and student life, and to craft a vision for future growth. Toward that end, I am constantly evaluating our faculty and staff to ensure that school leaders are executing at the highest level and that they are the best fit for Mooney going forward.”
“Last week, I moved too aggressively in opting for a change in the athletic department. In the days following the announcement, I received an outpouring of support for Carl from his players and coaching staff, the players’ parents, and others in the Mooney community. I informed Carl on Sunday that I was reassessing my decision. And after a constructive meeting yesterday, we mutually agreed to move forward together for the 2023-24 school year.
“I apologize for the distraction and negative publicity this has created. I mentioned last week that we have a transformational few years ahead, and it will be critical that we take on that challenge as one united Mooney Family. As always, thank you for supporting Cardinal Mooney, and God bless.”
Pelini is 9-21 over his three-year stint as Cardinal Mooney head coach.
Carl Pelini’s career
After graduating from Youngstown State University, Pelini was part of several university football coaching staffs.
Pelini previously served as the head coach of Florida Atlantic from 2012 to 2013 and also coached at Kansas State, the University of Nebraska, Minnesota State and Ohio University. In 2015, Carl joined his younger brother, Bo Pelini, working with YSU’s football team.
As a defensive coordinator, Carl worked briefly at Bowling Green University, returning to YSU in 2019.
Later that same year; Carl was named head coach at Cardinal Mooney in July.
He was briefly placed on leave as Cardinal Mooney’s head football coach “pending an investigation and final resolution” to a domestic violence case.
The high school reinstated Pelini after the charges were dropped.
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This story was originally published March 31, 2023 at 2:05 PM.
