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Tony Levine Hometown: St. Paul, Minn. Position: Outside Linebackers/Special Teams Experience: 3rd year at U of L Alma Mater: Minnesota ' 96

Tony Levine begins his third season on the staff at the University of Louisville and his second as outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. Levine spent 2003 as the Director of Football Operations, where he was responsible for the overall day-to-day operation of the Cardinal football program in Coach Bobby Petrino's first year as head coach.

Ranking near the top in Conference USA statistically in almost all statistical categories, Levine helped transform the Cardinal special teams units. The Cardinals blocked four kicks and placekicker Arthur Carmody set an NCAA single-season record for making 77 consecutive extra points.

Under Levine's tutelage, the Cardinals returned three punts for touchdowns, including a 72-yard return by Montrell Jones, who averaged a healthy 10.4 yards per return.

Levine tutored outside linebacker Abe Brown to become a dominating player from his outside linebacker position. The converted safety was third on the team with six sacks and added a career-best 55 tackles.

Levine came to the Cardinal staff after serving a one-year stint as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Louisiana Tech University.

Levine guided kicker Josh Scobee, who earned second team All-WAC accolades and was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2004 NFL Draft. Levine also tutored kick returner Erick Franklin, who in 2002 broke the single-season school record for kickoff return yardage.

Prior to his tenure at Louisiana Tech, Levine spent the 2000 and 2001 seasons working as the offensive graduate assistant coach at Auburn University where he coached the tight ends. While at Auburn, Levine helped the Tigers post a 16-9 mark and claim back-to-back Southeastern Conference Western Division titles.

Overseeing the tight ends, Levine coached Robert Johnson and Lorenzo Diamond,who went on to become members of the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals, respectively.

Before Auburn, Levine spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Southwest Texas State University. He joined the staff in 1997 and worked with the wide receivers before taking on the role of tight ends coach for the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Levine served as co-recruiting coordinator in 1999. Levine began his coaching career in 1996 as an assistant coach and freshman head coach at Highland Park (Minn.) Senior High, his alma mater.

The 32-year-old Levine was a three-time letterwinner at wide receiver for the University of Minnesota (1993-95) after joining the squad as a walk-on. While at Minnesota, Levine was twice named Academic All-Big Ten and was a three-time recipient of the University of Minnesota Scholar-Athlete Award.

Levine also played one season as a wide receiver for the Minnesota Fighting Pike in the Arena Football League. In addition to earning a bachelor's degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in sports management (1996) while at Minnesota, Levine also holds a master's degree in physical education from Southwest Texas State University (1999), and an educational specialist degree in adult education from Auburn University (2003).

Following his playing days at Minnesota, Levine was the founder and executive director of Levine Marketing Group, a sports marketing and special events company in St. Paul, Minn. Levine also served as the associate editor for the University of Minnesota SportsNews, a bi-monthly publication featuring Golden Gophers athletics.

Levine is married to the former Erin Wood. The couple recently enjoyed the birth of their son, Benjamin.