A veteran coach with experience at the high school, collegiate and professional levels, Tony Sorrentino enters his third season as a member of the NIU coaching staff in 2021.
Sorrentino, who spent the 2019 season at NIU as tight ends and fullbacks coach, moved to wide receivers coach in 2020. He mentored Tyrice Richie to a breakout season last year. Richie earned All-MAC honors after leading the team 597 yards receiving on 53 receptions with four touchdowns.
In 2019, the Huskie tight ends accounted for 34 percent of NIU’s receiving yardage. Daniel Crawford led the way with 37 receptions for 443 yards and two touchdowns, while Mitchell Brinkman tallied 445 yards on 34 catches, including three TDs.
Sorrentino came to NIU after spending the 2018 season as director of football operations at Florida Atlantic.
A New Jersey native, Sorrentino first worked with NIU Head Coach Thomas Hammock at Minnesota, where Sorrentino served as offensive quality control in coach 2009 and quarterbacks coach in 2010.
In addition to working at FAU and Minnesota, Sorrentino had stops at the University of Miami (2011), Tennessee (2017), and his alma mater, The College of New Jersey (2007 & 2012), at the collegiate level.
Sorrentino also spent time in the National Football League spending four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2013-16) where he worked with the wide receivers. Under Sorrentino’s tutelage, Jaguar wide receiver Marqise Lee posted career highs in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2016. Former Jaguar and current Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson earned his first Pro Bowl recognition in 2015 with 1,400 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns. Also in 2015, Allen Hurns became the youngest undrafted player since the 1970 NFL merger to post 1,000-plus receiving yards and 10-plus receiving TDs in a single season.
Prior to moving into the collegiate and professional coaching ranks, Sorrentino began his coaching career in the New Jersey prep ranks with stints at Montville Township High School (2008), West Essex High School (2006) and Morristown Beard High School (2005).
He and wife, Kara, have two children; a daughter, Marea, and son, Anthony Jr.
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