University of South Dakota Athletics

Tyler Paopao joined the Coyotes’ staff in February of 2018. He worked primarily with the tight ends through his first four seasons, but will focus on the wide receiving corps starting in 2022.
 
Paopao’s tight ends averaged nearly 45 catches, 500 yards and eight touchdowns in three full seasons. Brett Samson, a two-time all-Valley honoree, wrapped up a fantastic career in 2021 with a program-record 86 catches for 997 yards and 14 touchdowns. He helped lead the Coyotes back to the FCS playoffs for the second time, and South Dakota hosted a playoff game inside the DakotaDome for the first time in 35 years.
 
Paopao served as offensive coordinator at Eastern Oregon University from 2012-17 and also served as assistant head coach for three seasons. During his time in La Grande, Paopao led the Mountaineers to three winning seasons including eight wins in 2014 and to a national semifinal appearance in 2016 when Eastern Oregon finished 10-3. The Mountaineers’ offense averaged 36.5 points in 2014 and 31.5 in 2016. Twice, the team averaged better than 210 yards per game on the ground.
 
Prior to Eastern Oregon, Paopao spent five seasons at Southeastern Louisiana University where he produced multiple all-conference performers while working with tight ends, running backs and receivers.
 
Paopao earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Occidental College where he was a two-time all-SCIAC quarterback (2001, 2002) and led the team to a conference title and an 8-1 record in 2001. He was drafted by the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League in 2002, and served as an assistant coach there in 2005. A year later, he served as offensive coordinator for the Lazio Marines in Italy. He earned a master’s degree in kinesiology from Southeastern Louisiana in 2009.

Paopao and his wife, Jessica, have two sons, Mateo and Glover.