The Miami football program is bringing home Appalachian State offensive coordinator Frank Ponce as quarterbacks coach. Ponce began his career as the wide receivers coach at FIU under Miami head coach Mario Cristobal. Since working for the Panthers, Ponce has had two stints with Appalachian State and one with Louisville.
Ponce has become a QB guru. Scott Satterfield left FIU where he was the OC and QB coach to become the assistant head coach and OC at Appalachian State and oversee the Mountaineers transition from FCS to FBS. Ponce became the Co-OC and QB coach at Appalachian State in their first season in FBS under Satterfield.
Appalachian State averaged 35.7 points per game which was 26th in their first season in FBS. The Mountaineers went 7-5 and 6-2 in the Sun Belt Conference. Appalachian State QB Taylor Lamb completed 61.4 percent of his passes that season for 2,381 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Lamb also ran for 483 yards and four TDs. Lamb holds the career Appalachian State career passing, passing touchdown record and rushing yardage and TD record for a QB. Other QBs that Ponce has mentored throughout his coaching career. Louisville Cunningham Malik Cunningham became a star under Ponce.
Sources: Miami has finalized a two-year deal to hire Appalachian State offensive coordinator Frank Ponce as the school’s new quarterbacks coach. App had the country’s No. 22 scoring offense last season. Ponce also brings deep South Florida ties. @CaneSport first.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 9, 2022
Cunningham has 8,092 passing yards, 62 TDs and 24 interceptions and 2,619 rushing yards and 38 TDs in his Cardinals career. Ponce was the Louisville QB coach in 2019 and 2020 before returning to Appalachian State this season as the sole OC and QB coach. Miami defeated Appalachian State 25-23 in 2021.
The Mountaineers had 326 total yards, 199 passing and 127 rushing in the loss to Miami last season. Appalachian State QB Chase Brice was 21-34 for 199 yards, one TD and one interception against Miami. Ponce will work with Miami OC Josh Gattis whose hiring was made official on Wednesday.
Ponce will work with Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke who was the 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Miami football staff is close to complete. Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele was also made official on Wednesday. Last season was the first year for Ponce as a play-caller.