Hebron "Loni" Fangupo

Hebron “Loni” Fangupo enters his first season with UNM as coach of the defensive line, and he comes to UNM as a vast playing experience that spanned four years in the NFL. He also has past experience with Coach Eck from a season at Idaho.

PREVIOUS COACHING STOPS

IDAHO (2024): Fangupo served as the defensive line coach for one season at Idaho with Jason Eck, and he made his mark.  He coached All-American Keyshawn James-Newby and three All-Big Sky players in James-Newby, Dallas Afalava, and Malakai Williams.

The defensive line was one of the most dominant in the FCS, totaling 35 sacks on the season, led by James-Newby. He led the Big Sky Conference with 10.5 sacks and he was his best in big games, picking up 2.5 sacks against Oregon and 3.0 sacks against Wyoming. James-Newby was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award for FCS defensive player of the year.

Along with James-Newby, he coached first teamer Dallas Afalava who registered 7.0 TFLs and 4.0 sacks with eight hurries and a forced fumble as the Vandals went 10-4 on the season and advanced to the FCS Quarterfinals.

TEXAS SOUTHERN (2023): Spent a season at Texas Southern as a defensive analyst for the Tigers, helping a defense record 26 sacks on the season.

DIXIE STATE/UTAH TECH (2019-22): Coached at Utah Tech for four seasons and was part of the Trailblazers’ transition from Division II to Division I and their transition to two Division I conferences.

He helped the ‘Blazers go 8-3 in 2019, and he coached Syrus Webster, who was named First Team All-WAC and First Team All-United Athletic Conference.  He was also the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in the UAC.

SNOW COLLEGE (2017-18): Coached for two seasons at Snow College where the Badgers went 18-4 in his time there, playing in two bowl games and winning the 2017 El Toro Bowl.  In his time there, he coached four All-Western States Football League players.

PLAYING CAREER – MT. SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE (2007-2008); USC (2009-2010); BYU (2011); HOSUTON TEXANS (NFL, 2012); SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (NFL, 2012); PITTSBURGH STEELERS (NFL, 2012-13); KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (NFL, 2014); WASHINGTON REDSKINS (NFL, 2014); KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2014-15): Played at three colleges over five seasons after serving a two-year Mormon mission to the Philippines. After impressing at the NFL combine where his 36 reps on the bench were the most of any defensive tackle, he forged a four-year NFL career, playing in five career games in that time.