Polo Gutierrez joined the University of the Incarnate Word Football staff in 2017 as the Defensive Line Coach and Special Teams Coordinator.
Gutierrez comes to UIW from the Texas Military Institute, where he served as Head Football Coach and led the Panthers to a quarterfinals appearance.
Gutierrez was the Running Backs Coach at UTSA from 2010 until 2016.
Before joining the Roadrunners, Gutierrez worked at New Mexico State, where he was an assistant strength & conditioning coach in 2009. He also served as an assistant coach for a pair of NFL Player Development Camps and coaches AAU track & field.
A standout offensive lineman at New Mexico State, Gutierrez attended a tryout for the Buffalo Bills and played for the El Paso Generals of the Indoor Football League in 2009.
Gutierrez was a four-year starter for the Aggies from 2005-08. He began his senior season at right guard but switched to right tackle due to injuries along the offensive line. He finished his career by allowing just three sacks in three seasons.
He started all 13 games at right guard as a junior, helping the offense average 331.9 yards passing and 423.5 total yards (fifth NCAA) per contest. Gutierrez was a part of an offensive line that gave up just 24 sacks on the season.
As a sophomore, Gutierrez started every game at right guard. He helped New Meixico State establish 10 school records, including tying the single-season mark for scoring (374 points). New Mexico State finished third in the NCAA in total offense (475.2 ypg), second in passing offense (399.3 ypg) and 15th in scoring offense (31.2 ppg). The Aggies posted five 400-yard passing games, including three with 500 or more yards, and five 100-yard rushing contests.
He began his career with the Aggies as a defensive lineman, tallying 14 tackles as a freshman.
Gutierrez won numerous awards during his time in Las Cruces, including 2009 Lifter of the Year and 2007 Heavyweight Lifting Champion at the program's annual Night of Champions.
He was born in Laredo but grew up in Corpus Christi, where he was a three-year starter at Carroll High School. Gutierrez played center, guard and tackle and was an all-district selection as a senior. He also was a district champion and state qualifier in the shot put and discus and was named Tigers Athlete of the Year as a senior.
