John Cannova (pronounced Ca-nova) is in his second year with Utah State’s football program as a graduate assistant coach for the Aggies’ offense. In his role, Cannova assists the offensive coaches with daily football operations, primarily working with the offensive line.
During the 2017 season, Cannova helped Utah State to its sixth bowl game in the past seven seasons, playing in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
In his first season at Utah State, Cannova was part of an Aggie coaching staff that helped USU set single-season school records by scoring 50-plus points in three games and producing 500-plus yards of total offense in four games. USU also rushed for 2,228 yards, marking the ninth-straight season it has rushed for at least 2,000 yards.
In 2017, Cannova helped mentored a pair of linemen to honorable mention all-Mountain West honors last season in Roman Andrus and Quin Ficklin.
Prior to his arrival at Utah State, Cannova spent three seasons at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. In 2014, he was an offensive graduate assistant working with the offensive line, and in 2015-16 he served as the offensive line coach. During his three years at St. Ambrose, Cannova coached seven all-conference offensive linemen.
During the 2015 season, St. Ambrose finished the season ranked No. 20 in the NAIA Coaches’ Poll and led the Mid-State Football Association in scoring.
Cannova also served as the academic coordinator during his three seasons at St. Ambrose, helping the football team record the highest GPA in the NAIA in 2014 and 2015.
Cannova played football at North Central College in Naperville, Ill., from 2011-13, and was a three-year starter at offensive guard and center. He helped the Cardinals to three College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) titles and three NCAA Division III playoff appearances, including a semifinals appearance in 2013. During his sophomore season in 2011, North Central College averaged 6.8 yards per carry.
At North Central College, Cannova was a National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society honoree along with earning academic all-CCIW honors.
Cannova, who is originally from Wheaton, Ill., prepped at Benet Academy in Lisle, Ill., earning all-conference honors as an offensive lineman following his senior season.