NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Jan. 7—New Mexico announced three new coaches on Tuesday, bringing the Lobos’ total number of on-field assistants under head coach Jason Eck to six.
Of the announced coaches, all three have previously worked under or with Eck, hired by UNM on Dec. 14. The Lobos are notably still looking for a linebackers, wide receivers and tight ends coach, and a new defensive coordinator after Dan Jackson left to become the head coach at South Dakota State.
UNM’s three new hires, with information on their backgrounds:
Daniel Da Prato
Position: Associate head coach and special teams coordinator
Summary: A 20-year coaching veteran, Da Prato spent the last two seasons as Texas State’s associate head coach and special teams coordinator. Before that, Da Prato served as South Florida’s interim head coach in 2022 after Jeff Scott was fired with three games remaining; he had been on staff as the Bulls’ special teams coordinator since 2020.
Da Prato, 43, previously coached special teams at Arkansas (2019) and Montana State (2013-15), where he overlapped with Eck for one season. He also served as a wide receivers coach at Sacramento State (2007-12) and an offensive quality control coach at Colorado (2016-18) before joining the Razorbacks.
A former quarterback, Da Prato started his playing career at New Mexico Highlands before transferring to Chabot (Calif.) College and finishing at Louisiana-Monroe. After graduation, he joined the Warhawks’ staff as a graduate assistant in 2004 and was promoted to director of football operations in 2006.
John Johnson
Position: Running backs coach
Summary: Johnson joins the Lobos after spending the last three seasons as Sam Houston State’s running backs coach; in 2024, he added associate head coach responsibilities. Under Johnson, the Bearkats rushed for 179.8 yards per game (fourth in Conference USA) as running…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/unm-football-lobos-announce-three-040100904.html
Author : Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
Publish date : 2025-01-08 04:01:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
