Former standout San Antonio prep quarterback Giovanni Vizza is in his sixth season at UTSA and second as the program's tight ends coach.
In his first season mentoring the tight ends, his position group combined to catch 23 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown while also helping pave the way for an offense that rushed for more 1,000 yards and seven scores. Gavin Sharp led the tight ends with 16 receptions for 114 yards.
During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Vizza served as quality control for the offense, where he worked with the wide receivers. He was responsible for game preparation, future opponent scouting and film breakdown. He also contributed on the analytics side, as he incorporated advanced statistical analysis in preparing customized strategic reports in advance of each game.
During his time on head coach Frank Wilson's staff, he helped lead UTSA to back-to-back years of being bowl eligible, including the program's first-ever bowl appearance in the 2016 Gildan New Mexico Bowl. He played a key role in the development of the program's wide receivers, including All-Conference USA performer Josh Stewart and career receiving yards and touchdowns record-holder Kerry Thomas Jr.
Previously, Vizza was a graduate assistant coach for the offense during the 2014 and 2015 campaigns. He worked with the quarterbacks and assisted the offensive staff.
Vizza came to UTSA after spending two years as an assistant coach at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, the first as the quarterbacks coach and the second as the offensive coordinator.
A two-year letterwinner at North Texas, Vizza started 20 games for head coach Todd Dodge in 2007-08. He amassed 5,146 yards and 32 touchdowns through the air and an additional 415 yards and four TDs on the ground during his two-year career.
He garnered third-team Freshman All-America honors and was the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year after passing for 2,388 yards and 20 touchdowns in his debut campaign. He set an NCAA freshman record with eight TD tosses in a 74-62 loss to Navy and a North Texas school record with a 99-yard TD pass against Louisiana-Monroe. As a sophomore, he tallied 2,758 yards and 15 scores through the air and posted a pair of 300-yard passing games.
Vizza was the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Player of the Year and the Class 4A Offensive Player of the Year in 2006 after leading Alamo Heights to a 14-1 record and the state championship with a 40-28 victory against Copperas Cove, which featured future Heisman Trophy-winner Robert Griffin III. He passed for 3,278 yards and 37 touchdowns as a senior and finished his two-year Alamo Heights career with 6,054 total yards and 60 TDs.
Vizza earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from Texas A&M in December 2011.
The Giovanni Vizza File
Coaching Experience
• 2018-present: UTSA, assistant coach/tight ends
• 2016-17: UTSA, quality control/offense
• 2014-15: UTSA, graduate assistant/offense
Playing Experience
• 2007-08: North Texas, quarterback
Education
• Bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate, Texas A&M, 2011
In his first season mentoring the tight ends, his position group combined to catch 23 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown while also helping pave the way for an offense that rushed for more 1,000 yards and seven scores. Gavin Sharp led the tight ends with 16 receptions for 114 yards.
During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Vizza served as quality control for the offense, where he worked with the wide receivers. He was responsible for game preparation, future opponent scouting and film breakdown. He also contributed on the analytics side, as he incorporated advanced statistical analysis in preparing customized strategic reports in advance of each game.
During his time on head coach Frank Wilson's staff, he helped lead UTSA to back-to-back years of being bowl eligible, including the program's first-ever bowl appearance in the 2016 Gildan New Mexico Bowl. He played a key role in the development of the program's wide receivers, including All-Conference USA performer Josh Stewart and career receiving yards and touchdowns record-holder Kerry Thomas Jr.
Previously, Vizza was a graduate assistant coach for the offense during the 2014 and 2015 campaigns. He worked with the quarterbacks and assisted the offensive staff.
Vizza came to UTSA after spending two years as an assistant coach at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, the first as the quarterbacks coach and the second as the offensive coordinator.
A two-year letterwinner at North Texas, Vizza started 20 games for head coach Todd Dodge in 2007-08. He amassed 5,146 yards and 32 touchdowns through the air and an additional 415 yards and four TDs on the ground during his two-year career.
He garnered third-team Freshman All-America honors and was the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year after passing for 2,388 yards and 20 touchdowns in his debut campaign. He set an NCAA freshman record with eight TD tosses in a 74-62 loss to Navy and a North Texas school record with a 99-yard TD pass against Louisiana-Monroe. As a sophomore, he tallied 2,758 yards and 15 scores through the air and posted a pair of 300-yard passing games.
Vizza was the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Player of the Year and the Class 4A Offensive Player of the Year in 2006 after leading Alamo Heights to a 14-1 record and the state championship with a 40-28 victory against Copperas Cove, which featured future Heisman Trophy-winner Robert Griffin III. He passed for 3,278 yards and 37 touchdowns as a senior and finished his two-year Alamo Heights career with 6,054 total yards and 60 TDs.
Vizza earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from Texas A&M in December 2011.
The Giovanni Vizza File
Coaching Experience
• 2018-present: UTSA, assistant coach/tight ends
• 2016-17: UTSA, quality control/offense
• 2014-15: UTSA, graduate assistant/offense
Playing Experience
• 2007-08: North Texas, quarterback
Education
• Bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate, Texas A&M, 2011