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Joe Pannunzio is in his third season as the Hurricanes' tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.
In 2007, Pannunzio worked with a young group of tight ends which combined for five of Miami's 16 touchdown receptions.
In his first season, he tutored tight end Greg Olsen, who was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. Pannunzio also did a fine job coaching UM's special teams units. Both the punt return (27th) and kickoff return (55th) coverage units ranked in the top half of Division I-A in 2006.
This year, Pannunzio has a challenge in all of his responsibilities. With Olsen gone, he is working with Chris Zellner, DajLeon Farr and Dedrick Epps at tight end. He has to find a new punter and placekicker to replace Brian Monroe and Jon Peattie, respectively. And he has a bevy of true freshmen to work with in finding a new star to return Miami's kick return game to national prominence.
Pannunzio was the head coach at Murray State from 2000 to 2005 and was one of the most highly regarded tight ends/special teams coaches in the country during earlier stints at TCU, Minnesota, Mississippi and Auburn.
Pannunzio, 49, has coached for the last 27 years in college football, steadily rising the ranks from a star player at Southern Colorado to head coach. In his six years as head coach at Murray State, his teams finished 30-37 and won one Ohio Valley Conference title and advanced to the playoffs one time.
Prior to becoming a head coach, Pannunzio spent five years working for Tommy Tuberville at Mississippi and Auburn. Before that, he spent four years under Jim Wacker at TCU and Minnesota. He also coached for seven years at Mesa (Colo.) College, where the teams appeared in the NAIA national championship game two times and led the nation in total offense and scoring one time. His two stints at Mesa wrapped around two years at Kansas, where he worked under Mike Gottfried.
A native of Pueblo, Colo., Pannunzio was a standout quarterback at Southern Colorado, where he graduated with a degree in physical education in 1982. He was named honorable mention All-Conference and in 1980, led his team to a No. 9 ranking in NAIA Division I. He and his wife, Rita, have two daughters, Angela and Nico, and a son, Mario.
Personal Information
Full name: Joseph Thomas Pannunzio
Birthdate: July 4, 1959
Hometown: Pueblo, Colorado
Education: B.S. in physical education, Southern Colorado University,
Pueblo, Colo., (1982)
Wife: Rita
Children: Daughters Angela and Nico and son Mario
Pannunzio's Coaching Career
2006-presentUniversity of Miami (tight ends/special teams coordinator)
2000-05Murray State (head coach)
1999Auburn (tight ends/special teams)
1995-98Mississippi (tight ends/special teams)
1992-94Minnesota (tight ends/special teams)
1991TCU (tight ends/special teams)
1987-1990Mesa College (offensive coordinator)
1985-86Kansas (tight ends)
1982-84Mesa College (quarterbacks, receivers)
1981Southern Colorado (receivers)
Bowl Games as a Coach (2)
2006 MPC Computers Bowl
1997 Motor City Bowl
Coaching Accomplishments
•One of four coaches to win Ohio Valley Conference championships at Murray State, joining Mike Gottfried, Frank Beamer and Houston Nutt
•Went from tight ends/special teams coordinator at four colleges to head
coach at Murray State
•Considered one of the top special teams coaches in college football
•Instrumental in the development of Kelly Blackwell, who set the tight end
receiving record at TCU
•Coached in two NAIA national championship games at Mesa College
Honors as a Player
•Four-year letterman as a quarterback at Southern Colorado
•Led his team to a No. 9 ranking in NAIA Division I
Prominent Players Coached
•Greg Olsen (Miami) - Chicago Bears
•Marcus White (Murray State) - Tennessee Titans
•Laroni Gallishaw (Murray State) - Minnesota Vikings
•Lorenzo Diamond (Auburn) - Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins
•Kris Mangum (Mississippi) - Carolina Panthers
•Rufus French (Mississippi) - Green Bay Packers
•Tutan Reyes (Mississippi) - New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers
•Kelly Blackwell (Texas Christian) - Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears
•Tony Martin (Mesa College) - Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers
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