Joe Riccio enters his first season at Auburn as assistant throws coach after spending the past six years (2019–25) leading the throws program at Fresno State University. During his time with the Bulldogs, Riccio coached NCAA Champion and three-time All-American Cierra Jackson in the shot put and discus, while also developing multiple NCAA finalists, including Jordyn Bryant, Amelia DiPaola, Harriette Mortlock and Vanja Spaic. His athletes combined to qualify 24 times for the NCAA West Regional, with six advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Under his guidance, Bulldog throwers also rewrote the program’s record book, holding four of six event records and 20 top-10 marks.

Before Fresno State, Riccio spent five seasons as the throws coach at Grand Canyon University (2014–19), where he produced Olympian and World Championships competitor Tarasue Barnett in the discus. His athletes collected 15 individual conference titles and numerous NCAA West Preliminary Round appearances while contributing significant points to the Lopes’ first Division I WAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

Riccio began his collegiate coaching career as assistant throws coach at Mesa Community College (2013–14), where he guided multiple athletes to nationals, including two who earned All-America honors.

As a student-athlete, Riccio was a NJCAA national champion at Mesa CC in the hammer throw and a multiple-time All-American in the shot put and weight throw. He continued his career at Wyoming, where he scored in three events at the Mountain West Championships, and at Arizona State, where he was a Pac-12 scorer and NCAA regional qualifier in the hammer throw.

A native of Scottsdale, Arizona, Riccio graduated from Arizona State University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.