Lance Zeno was hired as the Director of Player Personnel prior to the 2023 football season. Zeno’s illustrious career in football spans both the playing field and the coaching sidelines. As a player, Zeno made a mark in the National Football League as a center, showcasing his talent for esteemed teams such as the Cleveland Browns, the Green Bay Packers, the St. Louis Rams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Dallas Cowboys.
He comes to TSU after spending the 2022 season as the offensive line coach at the University of California Davis. Zeno produced two Big Sky honorees and saw his OL only give up 11 sacks, which ranked 9th in the FCS.
Zeno's playing days began at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he honed his skills from 1986 to 1990 as a four-year letterman and starter. He was a two-year team captain and played alongside future Hall of Fame QB Troy Aikman. After his collegiate career, Zeno embarked on an impressive journey in the NFL, while also spending time playing professionally overseas.
During his tenure in the NFL, Zeno had the privilege of being part of some of the league's most storied franchises. From the Green Bay Packers, under the guidance of Head Coach Mike Holmgren, to the Cleveland Browns led by the legendary Bill Belichick, Zeno was exposed to top-tier coaching and a winning culture as he played alongside Brett Favre and Reggie White. His time with the Scottish Claymores and Sacramento Surge in the NFL World League further attests to his prowess on the field, culminating in championship victories.
Following his successful playing career, Zeno transitioned seamlessly into coaching, drawing upon his wealth of experience to guide emerging talents. His extensive coaching journey has seen him contribute to programs at the collegiate, professional, and high school levels.
Zeno started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arizona State in 1997-98 where he worked with the offensive line, followed by a one-year stint as the assistant OL coach at Iowa in 1999.
Zeno has made significant contributions to various institutions, including Saddleback College (2017), Santa Ana College (2014), Lincoln University (2016), and Chapman University (2010-11). These experiences have allowed him to refine his coaching style and nurture players' potential.
After coaching the offensive line at Fullerton College in 2018, Zeno spent three seasons at Mater Dei High School from 2019-21 as the OL coach. The team went 12-0 in 2021, while numerous players were named All-Americans. Zeno was a guest coach for the Dallas Cowboys in the spring of 2022 and served as an offensive line coach during the NFLPA Bowl in 2022 and 2023.
Beyond his accomplishments on the field, Zeno is also distinguished by his educational background. He holds a Master of Sports Administration from Ohio University, a Master of Education from Arizona State University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Zeno comes from a football family as his father Joe Zeno Jr. played for UCLA, while his uncle Larry Zeno also played for UCLA and the Dallas Cowboys. His grandfather Joe Zeno Sr. played for the Washington Redskins, winning a World Championship in 1947. His sister played volleyball at UCLA before going to play professionally on the pro beach tour.
