Paul Pasqualoni Paul Pasqualoni ( born August 16 , 1949 ) is the current head coach of the University of Connecticut football team . On January 13 , 2011 , Pasqualoni was named to lead the Huskies , two weeks after former coach Randy Edsall left for the University of Maryland . Pasqualoni was formerly the defensive coordinator of the NFL ' s Miami Dolphins , and most recently as the defensive line coach and interim defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys . He is perhaps most notable , however , as the former head coach of the Syracuse University football team from 1991 to 2004 . Early life . A native of Cheshire , Connecticut , Pasqualoni attended Cheshire High School , where he lettered in football and basketball . Following graduation , he continued to Bordentown Military Institute , also lettering on the football squad , and graduating in 1968 . Pasqualoni then enrolled at Penn State , where he was a walk - on and subsequent letterman , as a linebacker under head coach Joe Paterno . In 1972 , he received a B . S in health and physical education , then finished his education at Southern Connecticut State , receiving a M . S . in physical education and human performance . Pasqualoni began his coaching career in 1972 , while a graduate student at Southern Connecticut , as an assistant at his alma mater , Cheshire High School , where he remained for four seasons . After completing his master ' s degree , he was hired in 1976 as an assistant at Southern Connecticut by then - head coach , and future Syracuse assistant under both Dick MacPherson and Pasqualoni , George DeLeone . Pasqualoni was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1980 , a position which he held for two seasons . In 1982 , Pasqualoni was hired away from Southern by in - state rival Western Connecticut , as its head coach and athletic director . In five seasons with the Colonials , he amassed a 34 – 17 record , and coached the team to a 1985 New England Football Conference championship and appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs . Syracuse University . Pasqualoni was an assistant at Syracuse from 1987 until 1991 , when he was promoted to head coach after the position was vacated by Dick MacPherson , who left for the NFL to coach the New England Patriots . The Orange ( then known as the Orangemen ) enjoyed a number of successful years with Pasqualoni at the helm . The team won the Fiesta Bowl over Colorado in 1992 and defeated Clemson 41 – 0 in Gator Bowl in 1995 , Donovan McNabb ' s freshman year . The team had a 6 – 3 record in bowl games under Pasqualoni . Pasqualoni ' s 14 - year record with Syracuse was 107 – 59 – 1 . His only losing season was in 2002 with a 4 – 8 record . Most seasons of his tenure saw Syracuse competing in the Top 25 in the country . While coach of the Orangemen , Pasqualoni ' s roots in Connecticut led him to recruit many star players from Connecticut high schools , including Bloomfield ' s Dwight Freeney , New Britain ' s Tebucky Jones and the McIntosh brothers from Cheshire High School . At the conclusion of the 2004 season the team lost the Champs Sports Bowl 51 – 14 . New athletic director Daryl Gross fired Pasqualoni on December 29 , 2004 , despite the fact that Syracuse ' s president , Nancy Cantor , publicly stated that Pasqualoni would be on the sidelines the next season . He was replaced by Greg Robinson , who had been serving as the defensive coordinator at the University of Texas . During the 2005 season , the first season in 14 years without Pasqualoni leading the team , the Orange football team posted a record of 1 – 10 , the worst record in the 117 - year history of Syracuse University football . NFL . Dallas Cowboys . Before becoming linebackers coach in 2005 , Pasqualoni served as the Cowboys ' coach of tight end s for the 2005 season , where he is credited for the continued development of Jason Witten leading to his second consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl . In 2006 , Pasqualoni became the coach of the linebackers , being influential in Demarcus Ware ' s success in that position . On November 8 , 2010 Pasqualoni was promoted to interim defensive coordinator resulting from the firing of Wade Phillips , as Phillips served as both head coach and defensive coordinator for the Cowboys . Miami Dolphins . Pasqualoni was named defensive coordinator of Miami Dolphins January 22 , 2008 . Pasqualoni was fired by the Miami Dolphins on January 11 , 2010 . He was subsequently hired as the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys . Personal life . Pasqualoni is married to the former Jill Fleischman , whom he met while coaching at Syracuse University . Together , they have two sons , Dante Paul and Tito Lucian , and a daughter , Cami Mae . He is also the author , with Jim McLaughlin , of the book " Coaching Youth Football " , ISBN 0 - 07 - 137219 - 9 .