Donald D'Alesio enters his third season with Kansas City and second as the team's safeties coach in 2023. D'Alesio served as a defensive assistant his first season with the Chiefs in 2021.
The 2022 season was D'Alesio's first working exclusively with the safeties. His unit was led by veteran S Juan Thornhill and newcomer S Justin Reid who was acquired via free agency from Houston. Thornhill, tied with CB L'Jarius Sneed, to lead the team with three interceptions while totaling 71 tackles (43 solo) with nine passes defensed, four tackles for loss and 1.0 sack in regular season play. Reid stepped into a large defensive role becoming the fourth leading tackler on the team with 81 tackles (59 solo), seven passes defensed and two tackles for loss. In the postseason, Reid maintained productivity with 20 tackles (17 solo), which was second amongst Chiefs defenders. D'Alesio also developed rookie S Bryan Cook who ended up playing 16 games and totaled 27 tackles (19 solo), 1.0 sack and two passes defensed. The rookie had a standout moment in the AFC Championship Game with a pass break up that led to an interception by fellow rookie CB Joshua Williams. D'Alesio's safeties were part of a defensive backs unit that after recording just three interceptions in the season's first 10 games, went on to have 10 interceptions in the final 10 games, including the postseason.
In 2021, D'Alesio worked closely with the defensive backs as a defensive assistant. He worked alongside S Tyrann Mathieu as he was selected to his third Pro Bowl following the season. Mathieu recorded three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
D'Alesio spent the 2020 season as a defensive analyst at Louisiana State University after spending five seasons on the Youngstown State football coaching staff (2015-19). During his time at Youngstown State, D'Alesio spent time as the Penguins defensive coordinator, defensive line coach and defensive quality control coach.
Prior to D'Alesio's promotion to defensive coordinator in 2019, he served as the Penguins co-defensive coordinator in 2018 alongside Richard McNutt while also acting as the defensive line coach. In 2019, D'Alesio led a defensive unit that ranked seventh in pass defense, 10th in sacks and 24th in total defense in the FCS. Under his tutelage, standout player DE Justus Reed was named first-team after logging 12.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss during the 2019 season earning him All-MVFC and second-team All-American.
D'Alesio spent two seasons as the team's defensive line coach (2016-17). With D'Alesio's guidance in 2017, DE Justus Reed earned Missouri Valley All-Newcomer Team selection. In 2016, D'Alesio had two standout defensive ends in NFL Draft picks Derek Rivers and Avery Moss. Rivers was drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft by the New England Patriots with the 83rd overall pick while Moss was selected in the fifth round by the New York Giants as pick No. 167. In his first season with his alma mater (2015), D'Alesio held the role of defensive quality control working primarily with the defensive line.
The Youngstown, Ohio native was a defensive back at YSU from 2010-14, where he totaled 274 career tackles while starting 44 contests and playing in 48. His best year came during his senior campaign in 2014 when he was second on the team with 91 total tackles, including 45 solo tackles while adding a pair of interceptions.
Education: Youngstown State University (B.S. 2014). Born:Youngstown, Ohio.
