Danny DuPaix enters his 5th year as the Knights offensive coordinator and 6th season as assistant head coach (18th season overall) coaching Quarterbacks since 2018. In January 2021, DuPaix was also tasked with interim Associate Athletic Director responsibilities.
Since becoming the offensive coordinator, DuPaix led the Knights transition from a triple-option offense to what is now a dynamic attack that has gotten better each season—Total Yards increased (up 150%), points increased (up 85%), improved Red Zone efficiency (up 26%), explosive plays have more than doubled, and this past season, spread the ball around with 11 different athletes rushing, 17 with a reception, 11 with a TD with eight players with two or more TDs for the Knights.
The 2021 Knights offense was highlighted by a balanced attack that was more explosive than ever, finishing the year with 2000+ yards in the air for the first time in school history and another 1,000+ yard rushing season. Three RBs averaged 4+ yards per carry, led by Jacob Wood (Fr.) with 4.9 yds/rush. Wood also moved up to #3 all-time in rush yards per season, #4 in career rushes, and top 10 single-game performance with 128 rushing yards against NC Wesleyan (11/6/2021)
The '21 WRs also had a great year, with 5 WRs moving up the school rankings for rec. per season, rec. per game, as well as rec yards per game, season, and career. Skyler Johnson (Sr.) moved up to #1 in yards per reception (17.2), #3 in yards per season, and a whopping 19.6 yards per reception (#33 in the country).
At QB, Davis Pinkston (Sr.) finished his career with his best season yet, breaking almost every school season and single-game record. His final season highlights include a school record with his 355 yards, 3 TD performance vs. Wilmington (9/4/2021), a 74 yards bomb to Woodson Francois vs. Maryville (10/2/2021), 7.2 yards per attempt, 14.4 yards per completion, and a 117.8 QB efficiency rating. Overall, Pinkston became the SVU leader in passing yards (3,912), completions (316), completion percentage (51%), yards per attempt (6.2), TDs (33), and passing efficiency (111.2).
During the pandemic-shortened spring season, the Knights offense did many good things, improving the foundation of the young squad. Highlights include 88% Red Zone efficiency and WR Matt Johanson (So.) averaging 90 rec. yards per game while scoring 5 Tds in only 3 games.
2019 was highlighted by two-time First Team All-Conference running back Akiva Wedge's back-to-back 1,000+ yard rushing seasons and Honorable Mention offensive tackle Sami Grady (NJAC - '18, ODAC - '19, respectively). In addition to Wedge's stellar seasons, wide receivers Josh Newman and Kevin Adams quietly produced career seasons, breaking records in season receptions (Adams- 49), career TD receptions (Adams- 7), and career receiving yards (Newman- 810 yards). QB Davis Pinkston (So.) also set season records in completion percentage (52%), yards per attempt (5.8), and QB Efficiency (108.7) while tying the season record in TD completions (14).
In 2018, The Knights improved in scoring, total offense, yards per play, yards per completion, 3rd down percentage, and red zone scoring for the second consecutive season. The Knights set school records in average yards per rush (5.2 yards), yards per game (103.2), and season total rushing yards (1,032). Wedge also became the first 1,000-yard rusher in school history.
In 2017, DuPaix led the Knights to finish fourth in the NJAC in rushing offense. The Knights put up 45 points in a win against The Apprentice School, the most the team has scored since the 2011 season.
Before SVU, DuPaix was the Head Coach at West Jordan High School (5A). West Jordan ranked in the top 5 passing and top three rushing offenses in consecutive seasons. The program also improved from a 2.5 GPA to a 3.2 GPA during his tenure. Before that, DuPaix was the special teams coordinator and running backs coach at Herriman High School (5A) in the school's inaugural seasons, producing three All-State running backs. Under head coach Larry Wilson, the team went 20-14, making the playoffs each season and a Region Championship in 2012.
For six years before Herriman High, DuPaix coached multiple positions at his alma mater, Skyline High School, including several Region Championships and a State Title in 2005.
As a player, he started for the Top 10 Nationally ranked University of Utah Rugby Team (Division 1). He led the team to the National Playoffs three times and Quarterfinals twice. In 2008, he set a school record for tries in a game (5). He graduated from Utah with an MS in Education and BS in Special Education.
DuPaix, a Salt Lake City, Utah native, and brother of current Navy Assistant Coach Joe DuPaix, played high school football for his father, Roger, where he played on one State Championship team and two State Finalists, losing only three games in 3 seasons. After serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Raleigh, North Carolina, DuPaix married the former Rebecca Sonnenberg, and they have five children: Judson, Lyla, Thomas, Raleigh, and Noelle.
