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. He also coached Dylan Hendrickson who set Utah Tech records with 10.0 sacks for the season and 4.5 sacks in a game.

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 including Isaac Fotu who set a Snow record with 4.5 sacks in a game, tied a season record with 13.0 sacks and set a career mark with 19.0 sacks

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.