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UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners
Joe Pappalardo

Joe Pappalardo

  • Title
    Wefense Coordinator/Miner Backs/Inside Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator
  • Alma Mater
    UMass Dartmouth '19
  • Email Address
    nposada@utep.edu
  • Phone
    915-747-5224
UTEP Football Head Coach Scotty Walden hired Joe Pappalardo the Miners’ Wefense Coordinator and Miner Backs coach, on Dec. 21, 2023.
 
Pappalardo followed Walden after serving as his special teams coordinator and Gov Backs coach at Austin Peay for three seasons. Pappalardo was also at Southern Miss when Walden was on the Golden Eagles’ staff. 

Under Pappalardo, UTEP led Conference USA in punt return average (18.3). The Miners returned 17 punts for 311 yards (second most in CUSA) and a touchdown. Nationally, the Miners ranked fourth in punt return average and 10th in punt return yards. UTEP ranked fifth in CUSA in kickoff return average (20.7) while being one of two programs to return a KO for a TD. 
 
Miner Back Kam Thomas was named a 2024 All-CUSA first team special teams player. Thomas was also the team leader in punt returns on wefense. He ranked second in CUSA with 200 yards on 10 returns (20.0 avg.), including a long return of 93 yards for a TD at NM State. Thomas was one of two players in CUSA to return a punt for a score. Thomas also grabbed 47 receptions - tying for the team lead. Thomas started in all nine games played, leading UTEP in all-purpose yards (871) and all-purpose yards per game (96.8). Thomas ranked fifth in CUSA in all-purpose yards. Thomas’s big game came at NM State on Nov. 30, where he tallied 90 yards on four receptions, including a 69-yard reception against the Aggies. He added 109 yards on a pair of punt returns, including a 93-yard touchdown return. 
 
Miner Back Corey Wren led the Miners with 196 yards on six kickoff returns (32.7 avg.), including a 100-yard touchdown return at WKU on Oct. 10. Wren played through injuries during the season, seeing action in eight contests. 
 
Trey Goodman recorded 115 yards on six punt returns, averaging 19.2 yards per return.

Overall in KO returns, Thomas returned seven for 112 yards (16.0 avg.), Kenny Odom took seven kickoffs for 123 yards (17.6 avg.) and Ashton Nickelberry tallied 65 yards on four returns (16.3 avg.). 
 
Kicker Buzz Flabiano made all 28 point-after-touchdown attempts, while hitting 10-of-17 on field goals. Punter Adam Jacklin averaged just under 40 yards a punt. 

Pappalardo helped new UTEP WR/Miner Back Kam Thomas produce stellar numbers in 2023 with the Governors. Thomas, who signed with the Orange and Blue on Dec. 20, 2023, registered 267 yards on 12 punt returns and ranked first in the FCS with a 22.3 average. He also took two to the house with a long return TD of 89 yards. Jaden Barnes chipped in with 52 yards on three returns (17.3 avg.). Overall, the two combined for 319 yards on 15 returns, ranking first in the FCS with a 21.3 punt return average. 
 
Both were dynamic at returning kicks, as Thomas averaged 21.1 yards on 14 kick returns (296 yards) and Barnes averaged 24.3 yards on 11 returns. Overall, the Govs' kickoff return unit averaged 21.0 yards on 28 returns (589 yards). Austin Peay ranked 33rd in FCS in kickoff return average.
 
Thomas added 629 yards on 50 receptions with five TDs, along with 78 yards on 22 carries and a rushing score. Thomas racked up eight total touchdowns (five receiving, two punt return, one rush). 
 
In 2022, Thomas averaged 13.4 yards on 15 punt returns and added a 92-yard touchdown. Thomas also returned 14 kickoffs for 318 yards (22.7 avg.) and a 94-yard score.
 
Prior to APU, Pappalardo was on Southern Miss’ staff as a special teams and tight end graduate assistant from 2019-2020, when Walden was the co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach from 2019 into 2020, and interim head coach at the conclusion of 2020 for the Golden Eagles. 
 
Pappalardo served as a student assistant coach and the director of football operations at his alma mater UMass Dartmouth from 2015 to 2019. 
 
The Reading, Mass., native worked primarily with the defensive backs and defensive coordinator Steve Faniel while at UMass Dartmouth. In 2016, Pappalardo guided a backfield unit that posted 11 interceptions, including nine in MASCAC play, and 39 pass breakups. Sophomore safety Tony Slaughter was named Second Team All-MASCAC with a team-high three interceptions.
 
Pappalardo received his degree in business management and leadership from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in May 2019. 
 
PAPPALARDO’S COACHING CAREER
2024-Pres. – UTEP (Wefense Coordinator/Miner Backs/inside wide receivers/pass game coordinator)
2023 – Austin Peay (special teams coordinator/Gov Backs coach)
2021-23 – Austin Peay (special teams coordinator/Gov Backs coach/offensive recruiting coordinator)
2021 – Austin Peay (co-special teams coordinator/defensive analyst [LBs])
2019-20 – Southern Miss (special teams and TE graduate assistant/recruiting assistant)
2015-19 – UMass Dartmouth (student assistant coach [defense]/director of football operations)