Levine Added to Cardinal Football Staff
February 14, 2003 | Football
Feb. 14, 2003
University of Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino announced that Tony Levine, most recently an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech, will join the Cardinal staff as Director of Football Operations.
Levine, who replaces Ed Rifilato, comes to the Cardinal staff after serving a one-year stint as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Louisiana Tech. At U of L, Levine will coordinate the daily operations of the football program, serve as a liaison to NFL scouts and coordinate team travel logistics and community relations.
Prior to his tenure at Louisiana Tech, Levine spent the 2000 and '01 seasons working as an offensive graduate assistant at Auburn University where he helped the Tigers post a 16-9 mark and claim back-to-back Southeastern Conference Western Division titles.
"Tony is a young and bright talent who is a tremendous addition to this staff," Petrino said. "I had the opportunity to work with him for a brief time when I first arrived at Auburn and I was extremely impressed with his organizational and management skills."
Before Auburn, Levine spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Southwest Texas State University where he received a master's degree in physical education with an emphasis in sports management (1999). He joined the staff in 1997 working with the wide receivers before taking on the role of tight ends coach for 1998 and '99 seasons. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Levine served as co-recruiting coordinator in 1999.
The 30-year-old Levine was a three-time letterwinner (1993-95) at wide receiver for the University of Minnesota after joining the squad as a walk on. In addition to earning a bachelor's degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in sports management (1996), Levine was twice named Academic All-Big Ten and was a three-time recipient of the University of Minnesota Scholar-Athlete Award.
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., which worked with Nike, the NBA and the NFL on various events and promotions. During that same time, Levine also served as the associate editor for the University of Minnesota SportsNews, a 12-page bimonthly publication featuring Golden Gophers men's and women's athletics.
Levine's first coaching job came in 1996 as an assistant at his alma mater, Highland Park Senior High in St. Paul, Minn., where he served as the freshman head coach and offensive assistant on the varsity squad.
Levine is married to the former Erin Wood of Birmingham, Ala.
