A native of San Antonio, Texas, Giovanni Vizza joined the Southeastern coaching staff prior to the 2020 season as an assistant coach.
Vizza coaches the SLU wide receivers. Vizza came to Hammond from UTSA, where he was a member of the coaching staff for six seasons.
In his first season with the Lions, Vizza led a group that were key targets for Walter Payton Award winner Cole Kelley and a passing attack that ranked in the top 10 nationally in passing offense and pass efficiency in the 2020 season that was played in the spring of 2021. CJ Turner and Austin Mitchell were both named to the All-Southland Conference team, while Turner was also selected to the All-Louisiana team.
The most recent two seasons saw Vizza oversee the Roadrunner tight ends, including 2019 All-Conference USA selection Carlos Strickland. In 2016 and 2017, Vizza was a quality control assistant and worked with the program’s wide receivers.
Those two seasons saw UTSA post back-to-back years of bowl eligibility, including the program’s first-ever bowl appearance in the 2016 Gildan New Mexico Bowl. Vizza started his UTSA tenure as a graduate assistant for two seasons, working with the quarterbacks and assisting the offensive staff.
Vizza’s coaching career began with a two-year stint at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio. He spent his debut season coaching quarterbacks before being elevated to offensive coordinator in year two.
Vizza’s collegiate playing career began at North Texas, where he was a two-year starter at quarterback for the Mean Green. In 2007, he was named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and earned third team Freshman All-America honors. Vizza set a NCAA freshman record with eight touchdown passes versus Navy and finished his debut campaign with 20 touchdown passes and 2,388 passing yards.
In his two years at UNT, he threw for 5,146 yards and 32 touchdowns, while also rushing for four scores. He later transferred to Texas A&M, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics with a concentration of finance and real estate in 2011.
As a senior at Alamo Heights High School, Vizza was named Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Player of the Year and the Class 4A Offensive Player of the Year after leading to Class 4A title – including a 40-28 championship win over Copperas Cove High School, quarterbacked by future Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III. Vizza passed for 6,054 yards and 60 touchdowns in two seasons at AHHS.
Vizza wed the former Brooke Shoemaker in June 2021.
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Education: Texas A&M, 2011
Coaching Timeline
2020- – Southeastern Louisiana – Wide Receivers
2018-19 – UTSA – Tight Ends
2016-17 – UTSA – Quality Control/Offensive Assistant (WR)
2014-15 – UTSA – Graduate Assistant (QB)
2012 – Central Catholic High School – Offensive Coordinator
2011 – Central Catholic High School – Quarterbacks
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