Honors & Accomplishments
• Longest tenured football coach in Cornell history.
• Cornell's first Director of Player Personnel, Alumni, Community and Career Programs.
• Coached or recruited 36 All-Ivy League players and assisted in the development of six future NFL players.
Coaching Experience
• Director of Player Personnel, Alumni, Community and Career Programs, Cornell University (2013-present)
• Assistant Coach, Cornell University (1990-2013)
• Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1986-90)
• Assistant Coach and Defensive Coordinator, Allegheny College (1984-86)
• Assistant Coach and Defensive Coordinator, Edinboro University (1981-83)
• Head Coach, Clinton Central HS (1978-81)
Playing Experience
• Slippery Rock University (1974-77)
• Honorable mention all-conference tight end.
• Three-year letter winner.
Education
• B.S., Physical Education and Health, Slippery Rock University (1978)
• M.A., Educational Administration, Edinboro University (1982)
At Cornell
Pete DeStefano, the longest tenured assistant football coach in Cornell history, completed his seventh year as the program's first Director of Player Personnel, Alumni, Community and Career Programs in 2019. DeStefano announced his retirement prior to the campaign. He took over the newly-created role in February of 2013, assisting in the off-field development of Cornell's student-athletes from the time they reach campus until long after they graduate as alumni and fans of the Big Red.
A constant on the sidelines for the Big Red since 1990 on the defensive side of the ball, he coached or recruited 36 All-Ivy League players during his tenure.
DeStefano played a large role in scheming a defense that allowed opponents just 108.1 yards per game rushing from 2004-06, among the best marks in the FCS over that span. Cornell also posted its third straight year with at least 20 quarterback sacks in 2006 after reaching that mark just three times in the previous seven years. The 2009 team posted 58 total tackles for loss and has reached at least 55 in nine of the last 10 seasons.
In 2005, DeStefano’s defensive line helped Cornell’s defense rank second nationally in rushing defense (88.3 ypg.), giving up just 33 yards total on the ground in the final three contests. The unit ranked fourth nationally in total defense (261.3 ypg.) and 18th in scoring defense (18.0 ppg.). The line featured first-team All-Ivy pick Matt Pollock and two-time second-team selection Jonathan Lucas.
He has been instrumental in developing kick block schemes that helped the 2004 team to a school-record eight blocks. The team has blocked 61 total kicks in DeStefano’s tenure, including seven in 2007 and six in 2011.
DeStefano believes that hard work brings success, and often points to Seth Payne ’97, a nine-year NFL defensive tackle, as proof. After recruiting Payne, who barely weighed in at 225 pounds, DeStefano watched the tackle blossom into a fourth-round NFL draft pick. He is one of six Cornellians that developed into future NFL players during DeStefano’s time on the sidelines, with three more earning spots in the CFL.
He started his Cornell career as the head freshman coach and academic counselor for the athletic department in May 1990.
Prior to Cornell
Prior to coming to Cornell, he was associate head coach and defensive coordinator in charge of the linebackers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1986-90. He was also an assistant track coach at Rensselaer.
Before going to Rensselaer, DeStefano was defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Allegheny College from May 1984 to June 1986, and he was also head track coach.
Prior to his stint at Allegheny, DeStefano coached at Edinboro University, serving as head junior varsity coach and defensive coordinator in 1981, with the varsity offensive line in 1982 and with the defensive ends in 1983. He was also strength coach and helped with recruiting.
From 1978-81, DeStefano coached at Clinton Central HS. As the head varsity coach, he directed the team to the Tri-Valley League championship in 1979 and was named Coach of the Year. He also coached track at Clinton.
Playing Career
While an undergraduate at Slippery Rock, DeStefano played tight end for three years and received honorable mention All-Western Pennsylvania Conference. A 1974 graduate of New Hartford HS, DeStefano was all-league in football and track.
Personal
DeStefano and his wife, Joanne, reside in Ithaca. A 1978 graduate of Slippery Rock University with a bachelor of science degree in physical education and health, DeStefano received his master’s in educational administration from Edinboro in 1982. Joanne received her master’s degree from Cornell’s Johnson School of Management in 1997.
The couple has a son, Peter, who works in New York City for the Marriott Corporation and is married to Julie DeStefano. They reside in White Plains, N.Y.
His brother, Jim, was an AP All-America honorable mention linebacker at Cornell in 1980 and is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame.
* Updated December 2019
