Joe Pizzo - Football Coach - Mercer University Athletics

Joe Pizzo

Title:
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
Email:
pizzo_jr@mercer.edu
Phone:
(478) 301-4606

Joe Pizzo completed his first season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Mercer University in 2018.

Collegiate/Professional Coaching Experience:

Mercer – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks (2018)
- Saw Mercer's offense have immediate success in his first season as the Bears' OC & play caller from the coaches booth
- Guided an offense that averaged 377.6 yards in total offense (231.0 passing, 146.7 rushing)
- Bears averaged over 30 points per game (30.6) for the first time since 2014
- Pizzo's unit ranked third in the FCS in red zone offense (92.1 percent)
- Mentored redshirt freshman QB Robert Riddle, who earned the starting job & excelled in two games before suffering a season-ending injury
- Pizzo saw three quarterbacks play in at least four games due to multiple injuries
- Helped sophomore Kaelan Riley toss a team-best 1,234 yards & 12 touchdowns
- Mercer quarterbacks averaged 14.2 yards per completion, ranking 20th nationally
- Two running backs eclipsed 600 yards, including sophomore Tyray Devezin (926 yards, 5.6 YPC)
- Pizzo utilized senior WR Marquise Irvin, who recorded a school record 814 receiving yards on 54 catches
- Five offensive players earned All-SoCon honors under Pizzo's watch, including Riddle, who earned All-Freshman Team accolades
North Greenville – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks (2013-17)
- Led Crusaders to an average of 408.2 total yards of offense over five seasons
- Helped North Greenville win 32 games in five seasons, including nine wins in 2016
- Mentored quarterback Nelson Hughes to 68 passing touchdowns & 8,502 passing yards in his career
- Helped Hughes & his successor, Will Hunter, combine for three 3,000-plus passing yard seasons
North Carolina A&T – Offensive Coordinator (2011-12)
- Upheld his reputation for producing a balanced attack in first season with Aggies
- A&T produced its first 2,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher & 1,000-yard receiver all in the same season in 2011
- Mentored running back Mike Mayhew, who earned MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2011
- Receiver Wallace Miles benefited from the Pizzo system, becoming program’s first 1,000-yard receiver. Later signed free agent contract with Detroit Lions
Gardner-Webb – Offensive Coordinator (1997-2010)
- Established himself as one of the FCS’ top offensive minds over 14 seasons
- Built Bulldogs program into one of Big South’s most consistent offensive leaders
- Played key role in Gardner-Webb's two conference titles
- Five of Pizzo’s tutored quarterbacks ranked among top-10 passers in school history, four of which were all-conference players
- Led seven all-conference receivers
- Mentored former honorable mention All-American quarterback Jeremy Martin (8,025 passing yards & 60 touchdowns)
- Developed school’s first All-American tight end, Jason Bright
- Pizzo’s offense completed nearly 60 percent of its passes in 2003, led by Nick Roberts (2,410 yards, 20 TDs)
- Ranked 10th nationally in total offense with 441 yards per contest in 2005
- Bulldogs also led Big South in total offense, passing offense & scoring offense in 2002
Charlotte Rage (Arena Football) – Offensive Coordinator (1992-93)
- Worked with eventual GWU head coach Steve Patton
Mars Hill – Offensive Assistant (1988-89)
- Responsible for quarterbacks & receivers

Collegiate Playing Experience:

Mars Hill (1985-87)
- Earned South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Offensive Player of the Year & All-America honors in 1985
- Led Lions to 1985 SAC Championship
- Graduated from Mars Hill with school records for passing attempts in a single game (49), touchdown passes in a single season (16) & total offense in a single season (2,080 yards)

Education:

Mars Hill, 1987 (B.S., Physical Education)

Personal

Pizzo & his wife, Dana, have one daughter, Stetson
Inducted into the Mars Hill Athletics Hall of Fame in November 2007
Signed free agent contracts with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1987) & Indianapolis Colts (1991)
Also played professionally with the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions & Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks (World League of American Football)