HS Football Coach Carl Pelini Charged With Domestic Violence

Cardinal Mooney High School football coach Carl Pelini has a warrant out for his arrest after police say a domestic violence incident occurred early Sunday morning at the family’s home.

Pelini is being charged with domestic violence, according to a report obtained by WKBN 27 in Youngstown, Ohio. He is not currently in custody.

Pelini — who was most recently an assistant defensive coordinator at Youngstown State but previously served as interim head coach at Bowling Green, head coach at Florida Atlantic, and as an assistant at Nebraska — is the older brother of Bo Pelini, the former head coach of Nebraska and Youngstown State. Bo Pelini was LSU's defensive coordinator in 2020, per 247Sports.

According to the police report, someone called 911 at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday and said a woman had a black eye and was bleeding.

Police questioned the victim, whom they said was “highly intoxicated.” WKBN reports that police said she told them that she and Pelini had an argument, but that “it all happened so fast” and that “he just hit me.” She was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Pelini has been coaching at Mooney for two years. He took over for P.J. Fecko, who was the head coach for over 20 years.

Assistant coach Mike Tucci will take over the program as interim head coach, and associate athletic director Jim Jablonski will continue to serve as associate athletic director, WKBN reports.