James Pazak - Director of Player Personnel | Specialist Coach - Staff Directory - University of Northern Colorado Athletics

Staff Directory

James Pazak

Title:
Director of Player Personnel | Specialist Coach
Email:
Phone:
970.351.3046

Updated December 2025

James Pazak was named Director of Player Personnel for Northern Colorado football ahead of the 2025 season and continues to work closely with the program’s specialists, while JB Hall oversees special teams. Pazak previously served as the Bears’ Special Teams Coordinator during the 2024 season, helping elevate one of the most productive specialist units in program history.

Under Pazak’s guidance, Northern Colorado’s specialists produced multiple All-Big Sky honors and program records. Long snapper Maddox Broughton earned Honorable Mention All-Big Sky, anchoring a consistent and reliable operation in the kicking game. The punting unit was highlighted by Leo Blumentritt, who etched his name throughout the UNC record book. Blumentritt recorded 360 punting yards in a single game against No. 4 Montana State, ranking 16th all-time, while his 2,504 punting yards in 2025 ranked 10th in a single season. He also posted a 43.17-yard season average, the fourth-best single-season mark and second-best career average in program history.

Northern Colorado’s scoring production was led by Jacob Willig, who authored one of the most efficient kicking seasons in program history. Willig finished the season with 63 points, tying for 20th all-time in single-season scoring, while his 13 field goals tied for fourth-most in a season and matched the Division I program record. His .764 field goal percentage stands as the best career mark in UNC history, and he finished his career ranked 10th in career scoring (63 points). Willig also connected on multiple long-distance kicks, including a 52-yard field goal at No. 11/13 Idaho (tied for fourth-longest in program history) and a 48-yarder at Houston Christian. He added 24 extra points, ranking 12th all-time for a single season.

Pazak also mentored one of the most accomplished specialists in program history in Hunter Green. A two-time First Team All-Big Sky selection and 2024 FCS Third Team All-American, Green developed into one of the nation’s premier punter-kicker hybrids under Pazak’s leadership. During the 2024 season, Green appeared in 11 games, punting 67 times for 3,102 yards and a 46.30-yard average, both ranking among the top three single-season marks in UNC history. His season average set the program’s junior class record, while his 72-yard punt at Abilene Christian tied for the fifth-longest in school history. Green also connected on a season-long 53-yard field goal against Colorado State and averaged 62.6 yards on kickoffs.

Across his career from 2022-24, Green totaled 6,070 punting yards on 135 attempts, ranking fifth all-time at Northern Colorado, while his 45.00 career punting average stands as the best in program history. He produced multiple top-20 single-game punting performances, including 439 yards at Montana in 2023 and 442 yards at Stephen F. Austin in 2024. Green earned First Team All-Big Sky honors in 2024, FCS Third Team All-America recognition, and Big Sky Fall All-Academic distinction, further highlighting the consistency, production, and development of Northern Colorado’s specialist unit under Pazak’s direction.

Pazak arrived in Greeley in January 2023 as part of Head Coach Ed Lamb’s staff, initially serving as the program’s Director of Football Operations. Though brief, his tenure in that role was instrumental during the staff transition, coordinating recruiting logistics, official visits, and operational infrastructure. In February 2023, Pazak transitioned to the field as linebackers coach.

During the 2023 season, Pazak helped guide a Northern Colorado defense that allowed 28.8 points per game and led the Big Sky Conference in interceptions (10). Linebacker Jacob Stanton earned Honorable Mention All-Big Sky recognition under his direction.
Pazak began his coaching career at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California, serving as an assistant defensive backs coach during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The Cougars finished 8-3 in 2021, advancing to the CCCAA playoffs, followed by a 5-5 record in 2022.

As a student-athlete, Pazak was a two-sport athlete at the University of Redlands, competing in football and basketball. He was a two-time SCIAC All-Conference selection at cornerback in 1997 and 1998. Following college, Pazak played professionally for the Bergamo Lions in Italy, helping the club capture European and Italian Championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

Pazak earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders from the University of Redlands in 1998 and completed his Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders in 2003.

Pazak resides in Greeley, Colorado, with his wife Tiffany and their three sons, Jamo, Paulo, and Mo.