Zach Azzanni

ZACH AZZANNI begins his first year with the New York Jets after being hired as the wide receivers coach in February 2023.

Azzanni has coached wide receivers for 26 years, spending the last six seasons coaching that group with Denver (2018-22) and Chicago (2017), following 18 years at the collegiate level.

In 2021, seven different Broncos wide receivers caught at least one pass and totaled 171 catches for 2,257 yards (13.2 avg.) with eight touchdowns.

In 2020, Azzanni coached one of the youngest position groups in the NFL after Pro Bowl wide receiver Courtland Sutton suffered a season ending injury in Week Two. First-round pick Jerry Jeudy totaled 52 catches for 856 yards (16.5 avg.) with three touchdowns – the second most receptions (52) and receiving yards (856) ever by a Broncos rookie – while second rounder KJ Hamler caught 30 passes for 381 yards (12.7 avg.) with three scores in limited action.

Undrafted wide receiver Tim Patrick has developed into a full-time starter in his four seasons working with Azzanni. Patrick led the team (2020) with six touchdowns on 51 catches for 742 yards (14.5 avg.) and was the only NFL player with at least 75 targets and zero drops this past season (according to SportRadar).

In 2019, Azzanni coached Sutton to his first career Pro Bowl selection in just his second season after leading the team with 72 receptions for 1,112 yards with six touchdowns. Sutton, who totaled the most receiving yards (1,816) and receiving touchdowns (10) in franchise history through his first two NFL seasons, became the first receiver in team history to be named to the Pro Bowl by his second year.

Denver's receiver group (2018) featured little NFL experience behind veterans Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, who only played eight and 12 games respectively because of trade (Thomas) or injury (Sanders).

Azzanni was instrumental in developing first-year receivers Sutton (42-704, 4 TDs), DaeSean Hamilton (30-243, 2 TDs) and Patrick (23-315, 1 TD), who combined for 95 receptions for 1,262 yards (13.3 avg.) with seven touchdowns. Sutton's 704 receiving yards ranked fourth in franchise history for a rookie as he became the team's No. 1 receiving option during the last four weeks of the season.

Before his lone season coaching wide receivers for the Bears (2017), Azzanni spent four years at the University of Tennessee. He joined the Vols as wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator (2013) before being promoted to passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach (2015).

Tennessee went to three consecutive bowl games (2014-16), winning each contest while averaging nearly 43 points per outing. The Vols' passing attack in 2016, which featured six different players with at least 200 yards receiving, helped the offense set school records for single-season points (473) and touchdowns (63).

Azzanni spent one season each at the University of Wisconsin (2012 – wide receivers coach), Western Kentucky University (2011 – offensive coordinator/wide receivers) and the University of Florida (2010 – wide receivers/passing game coordinator).

Azzanni coached in three bowl games at Florida and Wisconsin, including two BCS Bowls, and won the Big Ten Championship (2012). In his lone season at Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers featured college football's second-leading rusher in Bobby Rainey (141.3 ypg) while Jack Doyle ranked fifth in the nation among tight ends with 614 receiving yards.

Hired prior to the 2010 Sugar Bowl, Azzanni's first game with the Gators saw quarterback Tim Tebow throw for a career-high 482 yards in the Gators' 51-24 win, against Cincinnati.

Azzanni spent three years as assistant head coach/wide receivers at his alma mater, Central Michigan University, from (2007-09), and won a pair of Mid-American Conference Championships. He was the lead recruiter for wide receiver Antonio Brown and tackle Eric Fisher, who was the No. 1 overall pick by Kansas City (2013).

After beginning his coaching career as wide receivers coach for Valparaiso University (1999- 2000), Azzanni worked as a graduate assistant under Head Coach Urban Meyer at Bowling Green (2001-02). He stayed with the school for four more seasons (2003-06) as wide receivers coach.

A former wide receiver at Central Michigan (1994- 98), Azzanni graduated from the school with a degree in sports management (1999).

Azzanni is married to Julia, and the couple has four daughters: Ava, Lyla, Zia and Lucia.ZACH AZZANNI begins his first year with the New York Jets after being hired as the wide receivers coach in February 2023.