Daniel Da Prato was named Texas State’s associate head coach and special teams coordinator in December 2022.
A highly-respected, high-energy coach who has mentored multiple All-Americans, Da Prato improved a Texas State special teams unit in his first season with the Bobcats in 2023. Texas State led the entire country in total kick return yards (1,017) and was fifth in the nation in yards per kick return (26.08). The Bobcats were also tied with Auburn for the nation’s best field goal percentage (100 percent).
The Bobcats, who improved 105 spots in the national rankings in kick return average from 2022 to 2023, returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, which was a first for the program since 2013. Texas State had a total of seven kickoffs returned for 30+ yards during the season.
The field goal accuracy was powered by Mason Shipley, who was a perfect 15-of-15 in field goals. The first-year starter set the program record for most field goals made in a season and was one of only two kickers in the country to make all of his field goals (min. 10 attempts).
Thanks to the impressive performances on kick return and in field goals, Da Prato saw his stretch of All-Americans and Lou Groza Award semifinalists continue. Ismail Mahdi was named a first team All-American as an all-purpose player – he led the nation in all-purpose yards in 2023 – while Shipley was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, which is given to the nation’s top placekicker. Da Prato has coached five different All-Americans in his career, including in three straight seasons from 2021-23. Meanwhile, he has coached a Lou Groza Award semifinalist in each of his last three stops (Arkansas, USF, Texas State).
Da Prato joined GJ Kinne’s coaching staff at Texas State after three years at USF (2020-22). He was the special teams coordinator in each season and served as the team’s interim head coach for the final month of the 2022 season.
In three seasons at USF, Da Prato coached consensus All-American Brian Battie, who helped the Bulls rank No. 1 in the country in kickoffs returned for touchdown from 2021-22. Battie was a third team All-American by Phil Steele in 2022 and consensus All-American in 2021.
Battie and Jimmy Horn, Jr. combined for four kickoff return touchdowns over the two seasons to lift USF to the top of the country in that category.
The 2021 season was a special one for Da Prato’s special teams unit as it was the ninth-most efficient group in the country, according to ESPN, and tied an NCAA record with two 100-yard returns in the same game. Battie set a school record with a 33.9 yard kickoff return average while punt returner Xavier Weaver averaged 12.9 yards per return, which would have ranked sixth in the nation if he qualified with two more punt returns. The Bulls finished the season ranked among the top-three in the American Athletic Conference in PAT percentage, field goal percentage, kickoff coverage, kickoff return and punt return.
Da Prato worked with kicker Spencer Shrader in 2021 as the Tampa native was selected as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
Da Prato was also named co-interim defensive coordinator with Ernie Sims for the final game of USF's 2021 season against UCF following the dismissal of defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer. Da Prato and Sims led a Bulls’ defense that held the Knights to 17 points, 12 first downs and 285 yards, well below their season average, in a close 17-13 loss in Orlando.
Prior to USF, Da Prato, a former quarterback in college, had coaching stops at Arkansas, Colorado, Montana State, Sacramento State and ULM.
In 2019 with Arkansas, Da Prato originally served as a special teams quality control role before being elevated to special teams coordinator towards the end of the season. The Razorbacks’ special teams shined that year, ranking 10th in the nation in kickoff coverage (17.29 yards per return allowed) and 20th in punt return defense. He worked with Lou Groza Award semifinalist Connor Limpert that season.
Prior to Arkansas, Da Prato spent three seasons at Colorado (2016-18) as director of quality control/offense and also served as a replacement coach on the recruiting trail in December and January of 2017, and again in January 2018. For the Buffaloes, he assisted the offensive coaching staff in its planning and implementation of the weekly practice and game plans. He was also heavily involved in game planning for the special teams units, with a specific area of concentration on punt block and kickoff return. The Buffaloes managed a couple feats in Da Prato’s tenure, blocking their first punt in eight seasons in 2017 and returning their first punt for a touchdown in 11 years in 2016.
Da Prato coached at Montana State for three seasons (2013-15) as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. In those three years, Da Prato coached a pair of All-Americans in tight end Beau Sandland, who was a second team AP FCS All-American in 2015, and returner Shawn Johnson, who was a third team All-American by The Sports Network in 2013. Johnson returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and averaged 31.0 yards on 22 kick returns (fourth in the nation). He also had a punt return for a touchdown and ranked fifth in the country with 13.9 yards per punt return.
Da Prato spent six seasons at Sacramento State (2007-12), where he coached the receivers all six years and added special teams coaching responsibilities the last three seasons (2010-12).
In 2008, he guided wide receiver Tony Washington to third-team All-America honors by The Sports Network. Washington, who only played two seasons at Sacramento State, was one of just 11 players in school history to catch over 100 passes on their career. He averaged 73.61 receiving yards per game, ranking third in Hornet history, and set a new program season record with 83 receptions in 2008 while his 1,279 receiving yards ranked as the second-most ever by a Hornet.
Da Prato began his coaching career at ULM, his alma mater, where he served as a graduate assistant for the offense for the 2004-05 seasons and was later promoted to the director of operations and recruiting coordinator in 2006.
Da Prato earned his bachelor’s degree in health & human performance from ULM in 2003 and later a master’s in education, with an emphasis in instructional technology, in 2004.
He began his college football playing career at New Mexico Highlands University in 2000, where he spent one year as the starting quarterback. He transferred to Chabot (Calif.) Junior College, where he started at quarterback for the 2001 season and earned honorable mention all-conference honors. Da Prato then concluded his career at ULM, where he earned two letters playing quarterback. He was an academic all-conference team selection as well.
A native of Sacramento, Calif., Da Prato graduated from Fred C. Beyer High School in Modesto, Calif., where he lettered in football, basketball and track and was an all-district and all-league performer at quarterback on the gridiron.
He is married to the former Giovanna Arrondo. The couple are parents to two daughters, Audrina and Everly.
Da Prato Career Coaching Timeline
2023-Current: Texas State – Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
2022: USF – Special Teams Coordinator & Interim Head Coach (Nov. 2022)
2021: USF – Special Teams Coordinator
2020: USF – Special Teams Coordinator
2019: Arkansas – Quality Control, Special Teams & Interim Special Teams Coordinator
2018: Colorado – Director of Quality Control, Offense
2017: Colorado – Director of Quality Control, Offense
2016: Colorado – Director of Quality Control, Offense
2015: Montana State – Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator
2014: Montana State – Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator
2013: Montana State – Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator
2012: Sacramento State – Wide Receivers/Special Teams Coordinator
2011: Sacramento State – Wide Receivers/Special Teams Coordinator
2010: Sacramento State – Wide Receivers/Special Teams Coordinator
2009: Sacramento State – Wide Receivers
2008: Sacramento State – Wide Receivers
2007: Sacramento State – Wide Receivers
2006: ULM – Director of Operations/Recruiting Coordinator
2005: ULM – Graduate Assistant, Offense
2004: ULM – Graduate Assistant, Offense
All-Americans Coached
Ismail Mahdi, Texas State – 2023 (all-purpose)
Brian Battie, USF – 2021*, 2022 (returner, all-purpose)
Beau Sandland, Montana State – 2015 (tight end)
Shawn Johnson, Montana State – 2013 (returner)
Tony Washington, Sacramento State – 2008 (wide receiver)
*Consensus All-American
Coaching in the Postseason
2023 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl (Texas State)
2016 Valero Alamo Bowl (Colorado)
2014 FCS Playoffs First Round (Montana State)
