Daniel Da Prato joined the UTSA football staff as the special teams coordinator on Dec. 11, 2019.
Da Prato comes to the Roadrunners from Arkansas where he spent the 2019 season overseeing special teams.
His special team unit shined in kickoff return coverage in 2019, ranking 12th in the NCAA with only 17.29 yards per return. The Razorbacks also ranked 23rd nationally in punt-return defense and 25th in the NCAA in punt returns, averaging 11.5 yards per return. Connor Limpert had a strong season as the field-goal kicker, going 14 of 19 with a long of 54 yards. On attempts inside 40 yards, Limpert went 7 of 7.
Prior to working with the Razorbacks, he spent three seasons as the director of quality control for the offense at Colorado. He was also heavily involved in game planning for special teams, with his specific area of concentration on punt block and kickoff return. Colorado produced three different all-Pac 12 receivers in Da Prato’s tenure and on special teams, the Buffs blocked their first punt in eight seasons in 2017. In 2016, Isaiah Oliver’s 68-yard punt return for a touchdown was the first at CU in 11 years.
Before his time at Colorado, Da Prato spent three years (2013-15) at Montana State as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. He coached a pair of All-America selections in tight end Beau Sandland (second-team AP FCS All-American in 2015) and return specialist Shawn Johnson (third-team selection of The Sports Network in 2013). In 2013, Johnson averaged 31.0 yards on 22 kickoff returns, returning one 100 yards and another 99 yards, both for touchdowns. He also averaged 13.9 yards per punt return with one TD and he finished fourth nationally in kick returns and fifth in punt returns.
Da Prato spent 2007-12 at Sacramento State as the receivers coach for six years and added special teams coordinator to his duties for the last three years. In 2008, he guided Tony Washington to third-team All-America honors by The Sports Network. Washington, who played only two seasons at Sacramento State, is one of just 11 players in school history to catch over 100 passes in a career. He averaged 73.6 receiving yards per game, ranking third in Hornets history, set a school single-season record with 83 receptions in 2008 and his 1,279 receiving yards that year are the second-most ever by a Hornet.
Da Prato began his Division I coaching career at his alma mater, ULM, as a graduate assistant on offense from 2004-05. He was then promoted to director of operations and recruiting coordinator in 2006.
A former collegiate quarterback, he spent one season (2000) as the starter at New Mexico Highlands. He then transferred to Chabot (Calif.) Junior College for the 2001 season and earned honorable mention all-conference honors. Da Prato concluded his career at ULM. He was an academic all-conference team member and as a junior started at QB when ULM opened the 2002 season at Ole Miss.
Da Prato earned a bachelor’s degree in health & human performance in 2003 and a master’s in education with an emphasis in instructional technology in 2004 from ULM.
He is married to the former Giovanna Arrondo.
Da Prato comes to the Roadrunners from Arkansas where he spent the 2019 season overseeing special teams.
His special team unit shined in kickoff return coverage in 2019, ranking 12th in the NCAA with only 17.29 yards per return. The Razorbacks also ranked 23rd nationally in punt-return defense and 25th in the NCAA in punt returns, averaging 11.5 yards per return. Connor Limpert had a strong season as the field-goal kicker, going 14 of 19 with a long of 54 yards. On attempts inside 40 yards, Limpert went 7 of 7.
Prior to working with the Razorbacks, he spent three seasons as the director of quality control for the offense at Colorado. He was also heavily involved in game planning for special teams, with his specific area of concentration on punt block and kickoff return. Colorado produced three different all-Pac 12 receivers in Da Prato’s tenure and on special teams, the Buffs blocked their first punt in eight seasons in 2017. In 2016, Isaiah Oliver’s 68-yard punt return for a touchdown was the first at CU in 11 years.
Before his time at Colorado, Da Prato spent three years (2013-15) at Montana State as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. He coached a pair of All-America selections in tight end Beau Sandland (second-team AP FCS All-American in 2015) and return specialist Shawn Johnson (third-team selection of The Sports Network in 2013). In 2013, Johnson averaged 31.0 yards on 22 kickoff returns, returning one 100 yards and another 99 yards, both for touchdowns. He also averaged 13.9 yards per punt return with one TD and he finished fourth nationally in kick returns and fifth in punt returns.
Da Prato spent 2007-12 at Sacramento State as the receivers coach for six years and added special teams coordinator to his duties for the last three years. In 2008, he guided Tony Washington to third-team All-America honors by The Sports Network. Washington, who played only two seasons at Sacramento State, is one of just 11 players in school history to catch over 100 passes in a career. He averaged 73.6 receiving yards per game, ranking third in Hornets history, set a school single-season record with 83 receptions in 2008 and his 1,279 receiving yards that year are the second-most ever by a Hornet.
Da Prato began his Division I coaching career at his alma mater, ULM, as a graduate assistant on offense from 2004-05. He was then promoted to director of operations and recruiting coordinator in 2006.
A former collegiate quarterback, he spent one season (2000) as the starter at New Mexico Highlands. He then transferred to Chabot (Calif.) Junior College for the 2001 season and earned honorable mention all-conference honors. Da Prato concluded his career at ULM. He was an academic all-conference team member and as a junior started at QB when ULM opened the 2002 season at Ole Miss.
Da Prato earned a bachelor’s degree in health & human performance in 2003 and a master’s in education with an emphasis in instructional technology in 2004 from ULM.
He is married to the former Giovanna Arrondo.