Anthony Campanile will be “at the office” this weekend.
The first-year Jacksonville defensive coordinator expects to be in constant communication with the Jaguars’ brain trust as they make their selections in the NFL Draft.
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Actually, the Jags have hired someone who brings along his own “braintrust.” The 42-year-old Fair Lawn native is one of four Campanile brothers who coach football.
His father, Mike, coached Anthony when he played at Paramus Catholic in the late ’90s. His sister Gina is a former Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year in volleyball and mentors girls in her sport.
You could say it’s a “family business.”
“We talk a lot – as much as we can, considering the hours,” said Nunzio Campanile, the Syracuse quarterbacks coach and one of Anthony’s two older brothers.
Jacksonville Jaguars coordinator Anthony Campanile speaks with media on Thursday from the Miller Electric Center.
“During the season, we’ll usually catch up later in the week. … In the offseason, it’s more sharing ideas, and then during the season, it’s more like, ‘Hey, just keep grinding away and focusing on the task at hand’.”
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Anthony Campanile has been doing that for 20 years. He started out as a graduate assistant at Rutgers, his alma mater, and has coached at every level since, including the last five seasons in the NFL.
One brother, though, noticed his calling at a very young age.
Coaching roots
Paramus Catholic QB Anthony Campanile (17) drops back to pass while brother Nick Campanile (4) prepares to block in a 1998 high school football game. PHOTO BY PAUL SABATELLO; published in The Ridgewood News, Sunday, Aug. 29, 1999, page 15.
Nunzio Campanile was the keynote speaker at last month’s Bergen County Coaches Symposium. When asked if he foresaw Anthony ascending to the highest level of football among the family, he shared this story.
“He was about 6 years old. My uncle was coaching the pee-wee team in Fair Lawn, and Anthony was the youngest kid on the team,” Nunzio said.
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“He doesn’t really play, he’s on the B-team or whatever. And my uncle is having this team meeting, with all the kids taking a knee, and Anthony stands up and goes, ‘Uncle Rich, can I say something?’ And he gives the team this Vince Lombardi article speech – at 6 years old. I was 13 or so at the time, and my uncle goes, ‘That was the most incredible thing’.”
Within the immediate family, the Campanile coaching tree begins with Mike, who spent three seasons at now-closed Paterson Catholic (1987-89) and 10 at Paramus Catholic (1990-99). All four of his sons played for him, with Vito (Paramus Catholic Class of 1993) the only one old enough to be at both stops.
Nunzio (Class of 1995) and Gina (1999) both graduated Paramus Catholic, but after the Paladins parted ways with Mike following the ’99 season, Anthony (Class of 2001) and Nick (2002) finished their varsity careers at Fair Lawn.
“As a player, he was the best leader I ever played with or have even been around,” said Nick, now the DePaul Catholic coach. “You could almost see, maybe more so than any of us… he had the qualities of a coach, even as a player. It was pretty cool to see.”
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“He was always tough, incredibly smart, and he just had an unbelievable work ethic,” said Vito, the current Bergen Catholic coach. “That’s been a big part of his success. And he’s a really, really passionate, guy.”
‘Ironman’ football
Anthony Campanile started at quarterback and linebacker in high school, then played safety and linebacker at Rutgers.
Throughout his coaching career, he has worked with tight ends (Rutgers, 2013-14), receivers (Rutgers, 2015) and defensive backs (Boston College, 2016-18).
Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano, left, applauds with Anthony Campanile (34) of Fair Lawn during practice at Piscataway, Aug. 4, 2001. Photo by Warren Westura.
His first high-profile coaching gig came at Don Bosco Prep, first as the linebackers coach (2007-09) and then as offensive coordinator (2010-11). The Ironmen won Non-Public Group 4 state championships every year he was in Ramsey.
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Playing both sides of the ball is common at the varsity level. But being able to coach offense and defense at the higher levels? That is fairly uncommon.
“[Former Don Bosco] coach [Greg] Toal knew better than anybody, a great coach is a great coach,” Nunzio Campanile said. “When Anthony went to Rutgers, he went as a defensive [graduate assistant], but they knew he had that experience, so when the job came open at tight end [coach], they moved him there. Then the opportunity came at Boston College, and he flipped back over the defense, which is where he wanted to be.”
“With the higher talent level, the amount of time that you have, obviously the scheme probably gets more complicated” in the NFL, Nunzio added. “But the actual things that win football games aren’t really much different.”
Getting to work
Anthony’s experience ought to come in handy given the first-round pick the Jaguars made Thursday night: Travis Hunter, the Colorado receiver/defensive back.
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Anthony told Jaguars senior writer John Oehser shortly after his hiring, “Having guys that have multiplicity to their game is something I’ve always valued. Everywhere I’ve been, we have valued that. You have to be adaptable.”
Campanile’s wife, Tracey, and their three young children have obliged in that regard. The Jaguars’ 2025 schedule will not bring them to North Jersey – they will host the Jets, either in Jacksonville or overseas – and aside from calls and texts, opportunities to visit siblings have dwindled.
But the brothers are always there for each other. And they’re always ready to talk football.
“He’s such a great resource for a high school coach,” Nick Campanile said. “If I ever have a question or need to see something on film, or need to see something they’re doing in the NFL, like a certain coverage or certain run-scheme, he can send me the film, and I get it within 24 hours. He’s a great resource for all of us, and I think he takes a lot of pride in that.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Anthony Campanile: Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator
