Vandals hire tight ends coach

The reshuffling of Idaho’s football staff appears to be complete. Today coach Robb Akey announced the hiring of tight ends coach Al Pupunu, who spent the last two years at Southern Utah University. Pupunu was a longtime NFL tight end (mostly with the San Diego Chargers) before going into coaching.

He comes to UI after QB coach Jonathan Smith left to become offensive coordinator of Montana. Offensive coordinator Steve Axman is assuming Smith’s responsibilities, while Pupunu will take over coaching tight ends from Axman. You can find more below.

I’ll also be back later to give an update on the Vandal men basketball team’s encounter with New Mexico State tonight. You can follow it live here .

********

Here’s the full UI release, with a quote from Akey:

Former San Diego Charger and one-time FCS single-season receptions record holder Al Pupunu has joined Robb Akey’s Idaho football staff as the Vandals’ tight ends coach.

Pupunu, who comes to Idaho after two seasons at Southern Utah University, spent nine seasons in the NFL – seven with the Chargers. A tight end, he was the Offensive Player of the Game in the 1994 AFC Championship game and averaged 9.8 yards per catch during his career.

He made his collegiate mark at Weber State, when Akey was on the Wildcats’ staff, by leading the FCS in receptions with 93 in 1991. That mark still stands as the second-best ever by a tight end in FCS history.

“Al is a first-class person,” Akey said. “He proved to me he’s a very good teacher. He also brings along some tricks of the trade that come with having played this game successfully at the highest level.

“I’m very happy and very excited about having Al as a member of our staff.”

A native of Tonga, Pupunu attended Dixie State College for two years before transferring to Weber State. Not only was he an all-conference performer at Weber State, he was a Walter Camp All-American and is in the Wildcats’ Hall of Fame as well as the Dixie College Hall of Fame and Utah Sports Hall of Fame. He was presented with the Distinguished Utahn Award by former Prime Minister of England Margaret Thatcher.

He and his wife, Mindi, have four children – Miley, Kade, Brynnli and Kenna.