Scotty Ohara enters his sixth season overall and first as offensive coordinator at UTEP in 2023. He was promoted to the OC in March of 2023 after serving was the wide receivers coach the previous five seasons.
In 2022, Tyrin Smith went over the 1,000-yard receiving mark (1,039) with seven touchdowns to lead the Miners. Smith was only one of three Conference USA receivers to hit the 1K mark. Under Ohara's tutelage, UTEP produced back-to-back 1,000-yard receivers for the first time in program history. Jacob Cowing tallied 1,354 yards during the 2021 season.
Smith is one of eight UTEP Miners to hit 1,000 receiving yards or more in program history, while his 1,039 yards ranks seventh best during a single season in school history. Smith led the Miners with 71 receptions, while ranking fourth in CUSA. His 71 catches ranks third best all-time in program history, as Smith became only the fourth Miner to register 70 or more receptions during a single season. Smith produced four 100-yard receiving games, including a career-best 183 yards at UNM. Smith's 106 yards on four catches with two touchdowns helped lead UTEP to its first ever victory in the eastern time zone, defeating Charlotte 41-35.
During the 2022 season, UTEP averaged just over 24 points per games, while averaging 384.8 yards of total offense. Reynaldo Flores also produced career numbers in his final season as he set career highs in receptions (49), receiving yards (534), rushing yards (276) and total touchdowns (six). Flores led the team with five rushing scores, while hauling in his first career touchdown reception. Flores set career highs in receptions (eight) and receiving yards (122) against North Texas. It was Flores's first career 100-yard game.
Kelly Akharaiyi, UTEP's third option, hauled in 21 passes for 275 yards and a score in his first season as a Miner. James Tupou thrived from his position at fullback, recording 12 receptions for 152 yards (12.7 avg.) and a pair of touchdowns.
Ohara mentored Cowing, who produced one of the greatest seasons in UTEP football program history in 2021.
Cowing tallied 1,354 yards receiving which ranked second on the program’s all-time single-season list. He was also the first Miner since 2010 to gain over 1,000 in the air. Cowing’s eight 100-yard games was the most by a Miner since 1965. Cowing added seven receiving scores and a rushing touchdown on the season.
Justin Garrett also recorded career numbers during the 2021 campaign. He set career bests in receiving yards (685), receptions (50), yards per catch (13.7) and touchdowns (four) in his final season at UTEP.
Smith, UTEP’s third option at WR, put up solid numbers. The transfer from Cisco College gained 570 yards on 33 receptions (17.3 avg.) and found pay dirt four times in his first season as a Miner.
El Paso product Rey Flores – who is listed as a running back/wide receiver – hauled in 13 receptions for 204 yards (15.7 avg.). He added a two-point conversion at UAB.
Jacob Cowing has emerged as one of the top receivers in Conference USA over the last two years under Ohara's tutelage. In 2019, Cowing led the Miners and all Conference USA freshmen with 550 receiving yards. In four fewer games in 2020, he racked up 41 catches for 691 yards. Cowing was second in the league in receiving yards per game (86.4) and surpassed 100 yards in four contests.
Cowing and Justin Garrett have formed one of the top pass-catching tandems in C-USA the last two seasons. After ending the 2019 campaign with a flourish (370 yards in the last six games), Garrett tallied 38 catches for 510 yards in 2020. Cowing and Garrett tied for the team lead with three touchdown receptions. Cowing was a second team All-Conference USA choice in 2020, while Garrett garnered honorable mention All-League honors.
Warren Redix, an El Paso product out of Montwood High School, led the Miners in receptions (36), yards per game (40.2) and receiving yards (442) during his senior campaign in 2018. Terry Juniel produced 281 yards on 21 receptions and a team-leading three touchdowns.
Ohara spent the 2017 season with Rutgers as an offensive quality control assistant, working primarily with the quarterbacks. The rebuilding Scarlet Knights’ season included three conference wins, the most since Rutgers joined the Big 10 Conference.
Previously, he spent six seasons (2011-16) at Kansas State at various positions with the program under the tutelage of current UTEP head coach Dana Dimel. In 2015 and 2016, he served as the assistant director of recruiting and offensive quality control assistant working with the running backs and tight ends positions. For three seasons (2012-14), he was an offensive graduate assistant at K-State. During the 2011 season, he served as an offensive quality control graduate assistant. During his time on staff the Wildcats made six bowl appearances, including a trip to the 2012 Fiesta Bowl during their Big 12 Championship campaign.
Ohara joined K-State from Menlo College in Atherton, Calif., where he was the wide receivers coach for two years (2009-10). He aided in the development of offensive schemes and created game plans, in addition to making all personnel decisions with the wide receiver position.
Ohara spent three years as a volunteer student assistant at Arizona, working under Dimel. He was a three-year student manager while he served as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2007 season. That year, he spent game day in the press box to chart offensive notes. He took on more responsibility in 2008, assisting Dimel with the running backs and tight ends by completing work on opponent film breakdown, producing weekly run game and third-down analysis and meeting with younger running backs for film study, blitz recognition and playbook review.
A native of San Jose, Calif., Ohara prepped at Pioneer High School before playing one year in college at Chapman University in Orange, Calif. He graduated from Arizona in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology. He received his master’s degree in academic advising in 2015 from Kansas State.
Coaching Experience
2022-Pres.: UTEP (Offensive Coordinator/QB/WR)
2021-22: UTEP (Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator)
2018-21: UTEP (Wide Receivers)
2017: Rutgers (Offensive Assistant/QB Assistant)
2015-16: K-State (Assistant Director of Recruiting/Offensive Assistant)
2012-14: K-State (Offensive Graduate Assistant)
2009-11: Menlo College (Wide Receivers)
2007-08: Arizona (Volunteer Assistant Coach)
