Utah State University Athletics

Joe Spaziani (Spaz-ee-ann-ee) is in his first season as the director of football operations at Utah State and his fifth in collegiate athletics. The 2025 season will be his fourth working for head coach Bronco Mendenhall.
 
With Utah State, Spaziani oversees logistics that keep a Division I football program running smoothly. His responsibilities include managing all facets of team travel, handling budget oversight, and coordinating daily meal schedules with the athletic performance staff. He also serves as a liaison between the football program and various on-campus departments, managing team events, game day logistics, practice scheduling, yearly calendars and itineraries, and player support.
 
Spaziani came to Utah State after spending the 2024 season as the director of football operations at New Mexico. He helped the Lobos to a 5-7 record, marking the program’s most wins in eight years. Their season was highlighted by a 38-35 victory against No. 19 Washington State, snapping a 26-game losing streak against nationally ranked teams. The UNM victory was its first win over a top-20 team since 1994 and its first non-conference win against a top-20 opponent since 1940.
 
Before New Mexico, Spaziani spent four years with Virginia, serving in various positions. He started his career under Mendenhall as a regional scout before serving three years as a graduate assistant, spending two seasons with the offensive line and one with quarterbacks. He spent his final year as an analyst, working on special projects for the football program.
 
Spaziani spent one year in professional football in the Canadian Football League, playing for the Toronto Argonauts in 2019 as a long snapper after being drafted in the sixth round (47th overall). He played five seasons at Virginia (from 2014-18), appearing in 30 games as a long snapper after starting his career as a quarterback.
 
Spaziani earned three degrees from Virginia with his bachelor’s in foreign affairs in 2018, his master’s in higher education in 2019 and his doctoral degree in higher education in 2024. 
 
Spaziani, a native of Hingham, Massachusetts, comes from a coaching family as his father, Frank, was the head coach at Boston College and spent 47 years coaching in the FBS and the Canadian Football League. 
 
JOE SPAZIANI FILE
Coaching History                                                                                                                           
2025-               Utah State – Director of Football Operations
2024                New Mexico – Director of Football Operations
2023                Virginia – Analyst
2020-22           Virginia – Offensive Graduate Assistant
 
Bowl Games (1)                                                                                                         
Virginia (1): 2021 Fenway Bowl*
*Not Contested
 
Playing Experience
2019                Toronto Argonauts
2014-18           Virginia

Education                                                                                                                                                
2024                Virginia – Higher Education (Doctoral)
2019                Virginia – Higher Education (Master’s)
2018                Virginia – Foreign Affairs (Bachelor’s)