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Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator
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Fifth Season
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Joe Pannunzio is in his fifth season as the Hurricanes' tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.
In 2009, Pannunzio tutored three future NFL talents in third-round pick Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints), seventh-round pick Dedrick Epps (San Diego Chargers) and free-agent signee Tervaris Johnson (Kansas City Chiefs). In just one season playing football, Graham hauled in five touchdown receptions which was second-most on the team. Pannunzio also helped kicker/punter Matt Bosher to All-ACC honors for the second straight season.
In 2008, Pannunzio coached one of the best kickers in the country in Matt Bosher. Bosher earned Second Team All-ACC honors and was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation's top kicker. Bosher returned in 2009 as the nation's leader in field goal percentage as he connected on 90 percent (18-of-20) of his field goals. Bosher also earned second team All-ACC honors as a punter as Miami's punt team ranked fourth in the ACC in net punting. Pannunzio also coached Miami's third leading receiver in tight end Dedrick Epps who caught 22 passes for 304 yards. Epps became the first Hurricane tight end with a 100-yard receiving performance since Greg Olsen did it in 2005.
Miami's return game also thrived in 2008 with Freshman All-American Travis Benjamin, who led the ACC in punt returns averaging 11.3 yards per return. As a team, Miami led the ACC and ranked in the top 30 nationally in punt returns.
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 in 2006, 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.
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 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 team appeared in the NAIA national championship game twice 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.
Pannunzio At A Glance
Personal Information
Full Name: Joseph Thomas Pannunzio
Birthdate: July 4, 1959
Hometown: Pueblo, Colo.
Education: B.S. physical education,Southern Colorado University (1982)
Wife: Rita
Children: Daughters Angela and Nico and son Mario
Pannunzio's Coaching Career
2006-present - University of Miami (tight ends/special teams coordinator)
2000-05 - Murray State (head coach)
1999 - Auburn (tight ends/special teams)
1995-98 - Mississippi (tight ends/special teams)
1992-94 - Minnesota (tight ends/special teams)
1991 - TCU (tight ends/special teams)
1987-1990 - Mesa College (offensive coordinator)
1985-86 - Kansas (tight ends)
1982-84 - Mesa College (quarterbacks, receivers)
1981 - Southern Colorado (receivers)
Bowl Games as a Coach (4)
2009 Champs Sports Bowl
2008 Emerald Bowl
2006 MPC Computers Bowl
1997 Motor City Bowl
Coaching Accomplishments
• Guided punt/kick returner Travis Benjamin to Freshman All-America honors in 2008
• One of four coaches to win Ohio Valley Conference championships at Murray State, joining Mike Gottfried, Frank Beamer and Houston Nutt
• 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
