John Papuchis

Biography

John Papuchis was named Mizzou’s special teams coordinator and defensive assistant coach in January of 2026 after six seasons as Florida State’s special teams coordinator along with coaching defensive ends and linebackers. Papuchis’ players have earned 55 all-conference recognitions, four conference Player of the Year awards and one Rookie of the Year. He has coached 16 NFL Draft picks, highlighted by Jared Verse’s selection at No. 19 overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 2024, and seven All-Americans, including the first defensive player to earn Associated Press Player of the Year honors. Papuchis won the 2007 national championship as part of the staff at LSU and has coached in seven conference title games. Papuchis’ six years Tallahassee saw his special teams units excel with multiple first team All-America honors while his defensive ends produced at a rate few others could match. This past season, placekicker Jake Weinberg connected on 12-of-19 field goals and all 46 extra-point attempts in 2025 while punter Mac Chiumento averaged 44.0 yards per punt. The Seminoles led the nation in kickoff return defense (8.5 ypr) while the punt return unit was 30th nationally averaging 11.58 yards per return. Punter Alex Mastromanno (2021-24) and placekicker Ryan Fitzgerald (2021-24) proved to be two of the best in the nation during their four years starting for the Seminoles. In 2024, Fitzgerald joined Mastromanno as an AFCA first team All-American to become the first punter and kicker duo