Ilaisa Tuiaki - Assistant Coach | Linebackers - Football Coaches - University of Northern Colorado Athletics

Ilaisa Tuiaki

Title:
Assistant Coach | Linebackers
Email:
unc_football@unco.edu
Phone:
970.351.3046

Northern Colorado Football announced the addition of Ilaisa Tuiaki as Assistant Coach for Linebackers in March 2026, bringing more than 16 years of collegiate coaching experience and a proven track record of developing elite defensive units.

Tuiaki arrives in Greeley following time at Oregon State, where he served as defensive line coach beginning in 2023. His defensive background spans multiple Power Five and FBS programs, including seven seasons as defensive coordinator at BYU, where he led one of the nation’s most opportunistic defenses. During his tenure, the Cougars totaled 135 takeaways and ranked among the nation’s top defensive units, including a No. 4 scoring defense in 2020 that allowed just 15.3 points per game.

“Ilaisa brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of defensive football,” said head coach Ed Lamb. “His ability to develop players and build disciplined, physical defenses will be a tremendous asset to our program.”

Throughout his career, Tuiaki has coached in eight bowl games and helped develop NFL talent, including Fred Warner, Sione Takitaki and Khyris Tonga. His defensive units have consistently produced at a high level, highlighted by Utah leading the nation with 55 sacks in 2014 during his time as defensive line coach. That same year, he was named one of five finalists for FootballScoop’s Defensive Line Coach of the Year, after earning a Broyles Award nomination in 2013.

Tuiaki has also held coaching roles at Utah State and Utah, contributing to high-powered rushing attacks and dominant defensive fronts. At Utah State, he helped guide the Aggies to the nation’s sixth-ranked rushing offense in 2011, while at Utah he was instrumental in developing All-Pac-12 and national award-winning defensive linemen.

A native of Provo, Utah, Tuiaki earned his degree in political science and English from Southern Utah in 2006, where he was a two-year letterman at running back and served as a team captain. He began his coaching career at Kearns High School before moving into the collegiate ranks.

Tuiaki and his wife, Viola, have seven children: daughters Uini, Leisinia and Heilala, and sons Laveatu’u, Lolo, Hilamani and Tavake.

His extensive experience coordinating defenses, recruiting nationally and mentoring student-athletes positions him to make an immediate impact on Northern Colorado’s defense.