Responsibilities
Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Line Coach
Years at BYU
2016-22
Education
- Southern Utah University (2006, B.A English and Physical Education)
- Snow College (2003)
- Timpview HS
Years Overall Coaching
2006-present
Coaching Experience
BYU, Defensive Coordinator (2016-2022)
- Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Line Coach (2017-present)
- Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers Coach (2016)
- Oregon State, Linebackers & Special Teams (2015)
- Utah (2012-14)
- Defensive Line (2013-14)
- Fullbacks, Tight Ends (2012)
- Utah State (2009-11)
- Running Backs (2011)
- Running Backs & Special Teams (2009-10)
- Utah, Defensive Graduate Assistant (2008)
- Kearns HS (2006-07)
- Offensive Coordinator (2007)
- Receivers & Outside Linebackers (2006)
Coaching Career Highlights
- Nominee for the Broyles Award in 2013 for the nation’s top assistant coach—the only non-coordinator to receive such recognition
- Top-five finalist in 2014 for the Football Scoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year honor
- Coached four Pac-12 postseason honorees at Utah, including first teamers Nate Orchard in 2014 and Trevor Reilly in 2013
- Orchard was also named the Morris Trophy recipient as the Pac-12’s top lineman and the nation’s top defensive end by winning the Ted Hendricks Award before being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft
- Under Tuiaki, Utah led the nation in overall sacks in 2014 with 55 and was sixth for average tackles for loss per game at 7.9 after ranking second in sacks per game in 2013 at 3.25
- At Utah State, served as the running backs coach and special teams and recruiting coordinator from 2009-11
- Helped the Aggies finish sixth nationally in rushing (282.7 yards per game) as running back Robert Turbin was named the 2011 WAC Offensive Player of the Year, rushing for 1,517 yards and a school-record 19 touchdowns
- Two Utah State running backs were drafted during Tuiaki’s time as the position coach, including Turbin and Michael Smith
Playing Career
- Two-year letterman at running back and a team captain at SUU after transferring from Snow College
- Played under Gary Andersen at SUU and also played rugby
- Two-time recipient of the Utah Coalition for the Advancement of Minorities in Higher Education scholarship
Hometown
Provo, Utah
Mission
Served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the New York, New York South Mission from 1998-2000
Personal/Family
Wife is Viola, and they have seven children, sons Laveatu'u, Lolo, Hilamani and Tavake and daughters Uini, Leisinia and Heilala