MIAMI – The FIU football program has finalized its offensive coaching staff under new head coach Willie Simmons with four new editions joining the Panthers, each of which carries a close connection to the south Florida region.
 
Joining new offensive coordinator Nick Coleman will be assistants Frank Ponce (associate head coach/tight ends), Benedick Hyppolite (running backs), Edwin Pata (offensive line) and Jelani Berassa (wide receivers).
 
Ponce, who will serve as associate head coach in addition to leading the tight ends, returns to FIU after a previous stint with the Panthers as wide receivers coach from 2007-12, with his most notable pupil being three-time All-American T.Y. Hilton, who went on to star for 11 seasons in the NFL.
 
Prior to his initial stint at with the Panthers he was regarded as one of the top high school coaches in football-rich south Florida, serving as the head coach and offensive coordinator at tradition-laden Miami Senior High from 2004-06 and the head coach at Coral Reef High from 2002-03.
 
"I am thrilled to be joining the FIU Football Family," Ponce said.  "I grew up in Miami and it will always be home. Returning to my alma mater to coach is beyond exciting. I look forward to working with some great kids, surrounded by a supportive and talented staff in the city I love."
 
Ponce was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Appalachian State from 2023-24, which marked his third stint with the Mountaineers.  He helped guide Appalachian State to a Sun Belt East Division title in 2023 which included nine wins and a victory in the Cure Bowl.  Ponce was recognized as a candidate for the Broyles Award that goes to the nation's top assistant coach.
 
In 2023, Ponce helped direct Joey Aguilar to a record-breaking season in which the App State newcomer set program records for single-season touchdown passes (33), single-season passing yards (3,757) and single-season total offense (4,002).
 
App State averaged 33.2 points per game with a balanced offense that ranked in the top four of the Sun Belt in both passing yards per game (273.6) and rushing yards per game (172.0).
 
During the 2024 regular season, Ponce directed an offense that had the Sun Belt's top passer in Aguilar (273.0 yards per game) while also producing a rusher  who ended the season with five straight 100-yard rushing games. The Mountaineers ranked No. 4 in the league in total offense at 426.8 yards per game.
 
Ponce held the role of passing game coordinator at the University of Miami in 2022 prior to his third of three stints in Boone.  The second of which saw him hold the title of offensive coordinator for the Mountaineers in 2021.

As App State's offensive coordinator in 2021, Ponce oversaw quarterback Chase Brice set a single-season program record for passing yards (3,337) as the Mountaineers extended their FBS-leading streak of consecutive years with a 1,000-yard rusher to 10 - while averaging 34.5 points per game. The offense helped App State post a 10-win regular season and win the Sun Belt's East Division title.
 
Ponce was the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Louisville in 2019 and 2020 and began his first and longest run at Appalachian State in 2013 and remaining in Boone through 2018 as the Co-Offensive Coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
 
The detail-oriented Ponce oversaw the 2019 development of Louisville quarterback and new full-time starter Malik Cunningham, who set the school record with a passing efficiency rating of 194.45. 
 
Three-year App State starter Zac Thomas was a relatively unknown commodity replacing record-breaking quarterback Taylor Lamb back in 2018, and Ponce helped Thomas make an immediate splash as a first-year starter who developed into the Sun Belt's Offensive Player of the Year with 2,039 passing yards, 504 rushing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 10 rushing touchdowns and just six interceptions during an 11-2 season.
 
He began his coaching career with stints as an assistant at La Progresiva Presbyterian School (offensive coordinator - 1992), Coral Gables High (quarterbacks/wide receivers - 1993-96), Miami Northwestern High (quarterbacks - 1998), Miami Central High (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks - 1999-2000) and Miami Killian High (offensive coordinator - 2001). As a coach at Miami Central, he mentored Willis McGahee, who went on to become an All-America running back at the University of Miami and a two-time NFL Pro Bowler.
 
A native of Miami, Ponce enjoyed a decorated playing career as a quarterback at Miami Senior, where he was the team MVP and a finalist for the 1988 Miami Herald Hispanic Athlete of the Year Award. He went on to become the starting quarterback for two years at Arizona Western College, where he earned an associate's degree in arts in 1990. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from FIU in 1997.
 
Hyppolite arrives at FIU following a one-year stop at the University of Miami as an offensive analyst, in what was his third stint with the Hurricanes.  This followed spending the 2023 season in Gainesville at the University of Florida as a quality control coach for the running backs with the Gators.
 
"It has been a journey, and I have been waiting for an opportunity like this my whole life, Hyppolite said.  "I am grateful and humbled for the opportunity Coach Simmons and FIU have given me to serve as the running backs coach.  I don't take that for granted and to express my gratitude I will work effortlessly every day to repay the university faculty, staff, administration, students and alumni to show my appreciation for this opportunity!  I will carry out Coach Simmons Vision for this football program and we will put a product on the Field that Panther Nation will be proud of!"
 
He also spent time with the Hurricanes as wide receivers analyst (2022) and as a graduate assistant from 2020-21.
 
Hyppolite was the offensive coordinator at Florida Memorial in Miami Gardens during the 2019 campaign.  He also held positions at various south Florida high schools including Hallandale High School (2008-2009), Miami Edison (2009-2010) and Miami Booker T. Washington (2010-2013).
 
He was later hired as the offensive coordinator for Miami Edison during the 2014 season and Miami Booker T Washington during 2015.
 
Hyppolite has head coaching experience as both the lead for Hallandale High School (2016) and Miami Carol City High School from 2017-2019.  
 
Additionally, he served as a wide receivers coach during the 2019 Army All-American Bowl.  While at Miami Carol City High School, he led the Chiefs to an 8-4 record during the 2017-2018 season and a 12-1 record in 2019 to become district champions.  He also served as the school's head track and field coach in 2019 where he coached the team to a state record in the 4x400 meter relay.
 
During his time coaching at Booker T. Washington, Hyppolite coached the Tornadoes to multiple accolades including three state championships (2011, 2012 and 2015) and led them to a national championship title in 2013. 
 
A native of Miami, Fla., Hyppolite received his bachelor's degree from Union Institute and University and his master's degree from the University of Miami. He graduated from Miami Booker T. Washington High School, and was a part of the program's first state championships teams in both football and track and field in 2007.
 
In 2020, Hyppolite was inducted into Booker T. Washington's hall of fame for his accomplishments as both a coach and an athlete.
 
Pata, who is also making a return to FIU,  joins the Panthers' staff following a six-year stint at the University of Miami, including last season as the Hurricanes' offensive line coach.  He had previously served as a graduate assistant with FIU from 2010-13.

"Excited about getting back to work where it all started for me. Paws Up!" Pata said.

 He arrived in Coral Gables as an assistant director of recruiting in 2019, was elevated to quality control analyst prior to the 2022 season – Mario Cristobal's first season as head coach at Miami.
 
Prior to joining the Hurricanes, Pata was assistant athletic director and head football coach at Immaculata-La Salle High School for the 2018 season.
 
A native of North Miami with deep roots in South Florida football, Pata began his full-time coaching career at Florida A&M, where he was brought on as tight ends coach in 2007. He served in that capacity through 2010.
 
Pata returned to Tallahassee to coach the FAMU offensive line from 2013-2017.  He was promoted to interim head coach of the Rattlers in November 2017 before accepting the job at Immaculate-La Salle in 2018.  Pata started his collegiate playing career at FIU.
 
Berassa arrives at FIU after spending the last two seasons as the wide receivers coach at Youngstown State after playing for the Penguins from 2009-14.  During his tenure at Youngstown, the Penguins advanced to the NCAA FCS Playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.
 
"I am forever grateful and ecstatic to get back to Da Crib Dade County and light up scoreboards again with Coach Simmons," Berassa said.
 
In 2023, Youngstown State averaged a school-record 243.1 yards passing per game. The old mark was 235.8 set back in 1972.  YSU set school records for completions (270) and attempts (388) as well as percentage (69.6).  YSU's offense set a school record for 40-plus point games with six.  YSU also set a new school record by scoring 30-or-more points in six straight games.  The Penguins scored 28-plus points in all but two games.
 
Before returning to Youngstown State, Berassa spent five seasons at Florida A&M, under current FIU head coach Willie Simmons, serving in wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator capacities.
 
At FAMU, he was instrumental to the development of All-American wide receiver Xavier Smith throughout his tenure.  In Smith's final season with the Rattlers, he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award which recognizes the top offensive player at the FCS level.  During Smith's four seasons he caught 280 passes for 3,620 yards and 28 touchdowns.  On two occasions, Smith caught 11 touchdown passes in the same season.  In 2022, Smith had 87 catches for 1,021 yards and 11 TDs.
 
In 2022, Florida A&M finished the season with a 9-2 overall record closing out the year on a nine-game winning streak.
 
A native of Miami, Berassa began his coaching career at Delaware State, where he was wide receivers coach and camp director from 2014-17.  Berassa was a standout wide receiver at Miami Killian High School before joining the Penguins' program in the fall of 2009.
 
Ponce Timeline

2025-present	FIU	Associate Head Coach/Tight Ends
2023-24	Appalachian State	Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2022	Miami	Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coordinator
2021	Appalachian State	Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2019-20	Louisville	Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coordinator
2013-18	Appalachian State	Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
2007-12	FIU	Wide Receivers

 
Hyppolite Timeline

2025-present	FIU	Running Backs
2024	Miami	Offensive Analyst/RB
2023	Florida	Quality Control/RB
2022	Miami	Offensive Analyst/WR
2020-21	Miami	Graduate Assistant
2019	Florida Memorial	Offensive Coordinator

 
Pata Timeline

2025-present	FIU	Offensive Line
2024	Miami	Offensive Line
2022-23	Miami	Quality Control Analyst
2019-21	Miami	Assistant Director/Recruiting
2017	Florida A&M	Interim Head Coach
2013-17	Florida A&M	Offensive Line
2010-13	FIU	Graduate Assistant
2007-10	Florida A&M	Tight Ends

 
Berassa Timeline

2025-present	FIU	Wide Receivers
2023-24	Youngstown State	Wide Receivers
2018-22	Florida A&M	Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator
2014-17	Delaware State	Wide Receivers

 
TICKETS
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