LOGAN, Utah – New Utah State head football coach Bronco Mendenhall announced his coaching and support staff for the 2025 season on Wednesday.
Mendenhall announced 23 hires, including his coordinators, 10 position coaches, six analysts and six support staff members.
Of the 23 coaches and support staff announced, 17 have previous working experience with Mendenhall at BYU, Virginia or New Mexico, while 10 staff members played for him at BYU or Virginia.
Kevin McGiven – Offensive Coordinator
McGiven brings 24 years of collegiate coaching experience to Utah State, including 16 seasons coordinating NCAA Division I offenses. The 2025 campaign will be his third season working with Mendenhall, including two years together at BYU in 2003 and 2004.
McGiven has been part of three conference championship squads and has helped six teams to bowl eligibility, along with two more advancing to the FCS playoffs.
The 2025 campaign is McGiven’s third stint at USU. He spent the 2013-14 seasons as the Aggies offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and the 2009 campaign as its assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. During the 2013-14 seasons, McGiven helped the Aggies to a 19-9 record, including a 13-3 conference mark, an appearance in the inaugural Mountain West Championship game and back-to-back bowl wins.
McGiven came to Utah State after spending the past seven seasons at San José State, including six years as the Spartans’ offensive coordinator. With McGiven on staff, SJSU won 38 games and qualified for four bowl games over the past five seasons. The Spartans won the 2020 MW Championship and concluded the year No. 24 in the Associated Press poll.
McGiven has also coached at Oregon State (2015-17), Utah State (2013-14), Montana State (2011), Memphis (2010-11), Utah State (2009), Weber State (2006-08), Southern Utah (2005), BYU (2002-04), Mountain View (UT) High School (2001) and Louisiana Tech (1998).
Nick Howell – Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
A veteran coach who has spent 16 years working with Mendenhall at BYU, Virginia and New Mexico, Howell brings 12 years of defensive coordinator experience at the independent, Atlantic Coast Conference, Southeastern Conference and MW levels to Utah State.
Howell has been part of 13 bowl eligible teams, including one conference championship and one divisional title.
Most recently, Howell served as the defensive coordinator at New Mexico in 2024, mentoring three defenders who earned all-MW honors. The Lobos ranked third in the conference and 29th in the nation with two defensive touchdowns last season.
In addition to his time in New Mexico, Howell coached at Vanderbilt (2022-23), Virginia (2016-21) and BYU (2007-15). He also spent five seasons (three as a head coach) at the high school level in Utah before moving into the collegiate ranks.
Shane Hunter – Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers
Hunter brings 14 years of collegiate coaching experience to Utah State, including four years as a coordinator. In his five previous coaching stops, Hunter served as both a special teams and defensive coordinator, coaching every defensive position.
Hunter, who is entering his 11th season working for Mendenhall, has been part of seven bowl eligible teams and one divisional title.
As the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at New Mexico in 2024, Hunter helped the Lobos lead the nation for successful two-point plays with five. UNM’s punt return unit improved 87 spots from No. 132 in 2023 to No. 45 in 2024, and the Lobos recorded its first punt return for a touchdown in three years. Furthermore, the punt unit (+16), kickoff return unit (+15) and field goal unit (+3) all saw improvement in 2024.
Hunter has also coached at Utah Tech (2022-23), Virginia (2016-21), BYU (2013-15) and Snow College (2011-12).
Mario Acitelli – Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator
Acitelli (Ack-uh-tell-ee) brings 15 years of collegiate coaching experience to Utah State and has been part of eight postseason teams, coaching in five bowl games and three FCS Playoffs. He has also coached on a conference championship team.
Acitelli has mentored seven players who played in the NFL and another who is regarded as one of the top offensive line prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Acitelli came to Utah State after spending the past three seasons (2022-24) as the offensive line coach at William & Mary, serving as the offensive coordinator this past season.
Acitelli also has coaching stops at LSU (2021), Elon (2020-21), North Carolina (2019), William & Mary (2014-18), Texas (2011-13) and Appalachian State (2010).
DeNarius McGhee– Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator
McGhee brings 11 years of coaching experience to Utah State, spending the past five years in the NFL.
McGhee came to Utah State after one season as the assistant wide receivers coach for the New Orleans Saints. His wide receivers group averaged 219.4 yards per game and caught 21 touchdowns, amassing 1,836 yards after contact.
In addition to this time with the Saints, McGhee spent four years as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans. His collegiate experience includes coaching stops at Montana State (2017-19), North Carolina State (2015-16) and Florida Atlantic (2014).
Kirk Garner – Running Backs
Garner brings eight years of collegiate coaching experience to Utah State. The 2025 season will be his fifth working with Mendenhall. Garner has been part of two bowl teams and one divisional champion.
Garner came to Utah State after spending the 2024 season as the running backs coach at New Mexico. He helped the Lobos finish last season ranked first in the MW in red zone offense and total offense, finishing fourth in FBS with 484.3 yards per game. The Lobos ranked second in the MW and fifth in FBS in rushing offense (253.6), leading the league and ranking fourth in the country in first down offense (298).
As the Lobos’ running backs coach, Garner mentored Eli Sanders to honorable mention all-MW honors.
In April 2024, Our Coaching Network named Garner a “G5 Coach on the Rise.”
Garner has also coached at East Tennessee State (2023), Vanderbilt (2021-22) and Virginia (2018-20).
Matt Johns – Quarterbacks
Johns brings seven years of collegiate coaching experience to Utah State, including two seasons working with Mendenhall. He played for Mendenhall for one season at Virginia.
Johns came to Utah State after spending the 2024 campaign as the tight ends coach at New Mexico. At UNM, Johns’ unit helped the Lobos finish the 2024 season first in the MW in red zone offense and total offense, ranking fourth in the FBS with 484.3 yards per game. The Lobos ranked second in the MW and fifth in the FBS in rushing offense (253.6), leading the league and ranking fourth in the country in first down offense (298).
Johns also has coaching stops at William & Mary (2019-23) and Virginia (2018).
Jan Jorgensen – Outside Linebackers
Jorgensen is entering his fifth season on staff with Mendenhall and has 10 years of collegiate coaching experience. He has helped five teams to postseason play with three bowl appearances and two National Junior College Athletic Association Tournaments.
Jorgensen came to Utah State after spending the 2024 season as the edges coach at New Mexico as he helped mentor three defenders that earned all-MW honors as the team ranked third in the conference and 29th in the nation with two defensive touchdowns.
Along with his time at New Mexico, Jorgensen has coached at BYU (2022-23), Snow College (2019-21), Orange Coast College (2018) and BYU (2015-17).
Charles Mack – Cornerbacks
Mack brings six years of collegiate coaching experience to Utah State. He has been part of two bowl eligible teams and one divisional champion. The 2025 season will be his fifth working with Mendenhall.
Mack came to Utah State after spending the 2024 season as the defensive backs coach at New Mexico, mentoring three defenders who earned all-MW honors. As a unit, UNM ranked third in the conference and 29th in the nation with two defensive touchdowns.
Mack has also coached at Virginia Military Institute (2023) and Virginia (2019-22).
Donte Wilkins – Defensive Line
Wilkins, who has spent four seasons working for Mendenhall, brings eight years of collegiate coaching experience to Utah State. He has coached three bowl eligible teams and another that played in the FCS Playoffs, along with one divisional championship team.
Wilkins came to Utah State after spending the 2024 season as the defensive line coach at New Mexico, mentoring three defenders who earned all-MW honors. As a unit, UNM ranked third in the conference and 29th in the nation with two defensive touchdowns.
Wilkins also has coaching stops at Lafayette (2022-23), Virginia (2019-21) and UCLA (2017-18).
Ali’i Niumatalolo– Senior Analyst/Tight Ends
Niumatalolo (Al-ee-ee / Nee-uh-mah-tuh-lolo) brings three years of coaching experience to the Aggies and has been part of two bowl teams.
Niumatalolo came to Utah State after spending the 2024 season as the outside linebackers coach at Utah Tech. With the Trailblazers, Niumatalolo coached Rick Mua’e, who earned FCS Freshman All-America honors.
In addition to his time at UT, Niumatalolo coached at UCLA (2023) and Utah (2022).
Niumatalolo is the son of former longtime Navy head football coach and current San Jose State head coach Ken Niumatalolo.
Austin Gatewood – Senior Analyst/Defense
Gatewood joins Utah State after coaching under Mendenhall at New Mexico in 2024.
In addition to his time with the Lobos, Gatewood has six years of college coaching experience, including stops at East Tennessee State (2023) and Vanderbilt (2019-22).
Brett Arkelian – Special Teams Analyst
Arkelian (Are-kelly-en) joins Utah State after working with Mendenhall at New Mexico during the 2024 season. He has six years of collegiate coaching experience.
As a special teams analyst at New Mexico last season, the Lobos led the nation for successful two-point plays with five. UNM’s punt return unit improved 87 spots from No. 132 in 2023 to No. 45 in 2024, and the Lobos tallied its first punt return for a touchdown in three years. Furthermore, the punt unit (+16), kickoff return unit (+15) and field goal unit (+3) all saw improvement in 2024.
Arkelian has previous stops at Fresno State (2023), UC Davis (2022), Virginia Tech (2021), Marshall (2020) and UT Martin (2018-19).
Christopher Howell – Defensive Analyst
Howell joins the Aggies after spending the last 25 years at the high school level and has 32 years of high school coaching experience.
Most recently, Howell was the athletics director at Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah, and served as the school’s head football coach for five years from 2019-24. During that time, he led the Bobcats to a 49-11 record, which included a 28-game winning streak, four region championships and back-to-back state titles during the 2019 and 2020 campaigns. It was the programs first state titles in the 55-year history of the school. He was named the 2020 Utah High School Activities Association Coach of the Year in 2020 and the 2023 UHSAA Gold Star Coach of the Year.
Howell was also a high school head football coach at Ridgeline High School (2016-18) and at Star Valley High School in Afton, Wyoming (2008-15).
Josh Clifford – Junior Analyst/Skill Assistant
Clifford joins Utah State after one season at New Mexico under Mendenhall in 2024.
Before New Mexico, Clifford spent the 2023 season at Wake Forest on a coaching and recruiting internship.
Clifford played five years at Virginia as a wide receiver for Mendenhall, appearing in seven games over his final three seasons.
Nick Grant – Junior Analyst/Defense
Grant is in his second year working with Mendenhall after serving as a defensive graduate assistant at New Mexico in 2024.
Grant played six seasons at Virginia under Mendenhall, appearing in 59 games with 32 starts.
Chris Peace – Junior Analyst/Defense
Peace is in his second year working with Mendenhall, serving as a defensive graduate assistant at Virginia in 2021 and 2022.
In his final season as a player at Virginia, he earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2018 before his lone season in the NFL in 2019, playing for the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Giants.
Pat Hickman – Chief of Staff
Hickman is in his 18th year working for Mendenhall in various roles, including as chief of staff, director of operations, director of recruiting and director of scouting.
At Utah State, Hickman will oversee all facets of roster management for the program and work together with the director of scouting, planning recruit visits and managing the Aggie roster. In addition, he serves as a liaison with many of USU’s corporate partners for recruiting events.
Hickman has worked at New Mexico (2024), BYU (2022-23), Virginia (2016-21), BYU (2006-15) and Boise State (2002-05).
Joe Spaziani – Director of Football Operations
Spaziani (Spuh-zah-knee) is in his fourth year working for Mendenhall, spending time as a director of football operations, an analyst and a graduate assistant.
With Utah State, Spaziani oversees logistics that keep a Division I football program running smoothly, managing all facets of team travel, handling budget oversight and coordinating daily meal schedules with the athletic performance staff. In addition, he serves as a liaison between the football program and various on-campus departments, coordinating team events, game day logistics, practice scheduling, yearly calendars and itineraries and player support.
Spaziani spent one year at New Mexico (2024) and four years at Virginia (2020-23), serving in various positions.
Evan Butts – Director of Player Personnel
Butts is in his fourth season working for Mendenhall, spending time together at both New Mexico and Virginia.
With Utah State, Butts will oversee all facets of recruiting, including official visits, travel, recruiting weekends and roster management. In addition, Butts will oversee USU’s scholarship allocation and walk-on program, including walk-on tryouts.
Butts previously spent the 2024 season at New Mexico, four years at Virginia (2020-23) in a variety of roles and one year at Villanova (2019).
Jordan Pulou – Defensive Recruiting Analyst
Pulou (Poo-lo) brings six years of collegiate coaching experience to Utah State, serving as the defensive coordinator at Snow College for the past three years.
At Snow, Pulou helped the Badgers to a 26-7 record. He coached nine All-Americans, and his defense averaged 34.0 sacks per season, forcing a combined 24 turnovers.
Pulou coached at Morgan State for three seasons (2019-21) and spent the past three summers as a special teams intern in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers as part of the Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship Program.
Ben Hogg – Offensive Recruiting Analyst
Hogg spent the 2024 season as an athletic performance intern at New Mexico under Mendenhall, marking the second season working with the USU head coach.
Hogg played for Mendenhall at Virginia for four seasons (2016-19), appearing in 23 games as a wide receiver for the Cavaliers.
Summer Tujague – Head Coach Assistant
Tujague (Two-jay) joins Utah State after spending the 2024 season as Mendenhall’s administrative assistant at New Mexico. Before New Mexico, she spent three years (2019-21) working with Mendenhall in Virginia’s football office as an assistant on-grounds recruiter.
2025 Season Ticket Information
Utah State football season ticket holders can renew their seats for the 2025 season now. Fans who renew before Jan. 31 can take advantage of a new 7-month payment plan option. For more information, visit www.utahstateaggies.com or call the USU Ticket Office at 435-797-0305.
