Kansas State Football | Meet defensive tackles coach Mike Tuiasosopo

Meet new Kansas State defensive tackles coach Mike Tuiasosopo. Tuiasosopo joins Chris Klieman's first Wildcat coaching staff.

BIO:
Mike Tuiasosopo, who holds 20 years' worth of Division I coaching experience, was hired at Kansas State to coach the defensive tackles in January 2019.

Tuiasosopo (pronounced TWO-ee-AH-so-SO-po) comes to Manhattan after serving one season as the defensive line coach at UTEP. Prior to his time in El Paso, he served as the special teams quality control assistant at USC in 2017, which claimed the Pac-12 Conference title for the first time in nine years. The Trojans were effective in the return game, ranking third in the Pac-12 in kickoff returns (23.5 yards per return) and punt returns (11.9 yards per return).

Before serving as the special teams quality control assistant, Tuiasosopo served as an offensive consultant for USC in 2016, and he was a volunteer football analyst for the Trojans the season prior.

USC was the latest of several stops throughout the Pac-10/12 as he coached the outside linebackers and special teams at UCLA in 2014 after coaching the defensive line at Colorado in 2011 and 2012, while he coached the defensive tackles at Arizona from 2004 to 2010.

While in Westwood, the 2014 Bruin defense finished the year garnering the No. 3 spot in total defense (398.5 yards per game) in the Pac-12, which featured Tuiasosopo product Deon Hollins becoming the Bruins’ sack leader in his first season as a starter. On special teams, the kickoff coverage unit ranked second in the Pac-12 as returner Ishmael Adams finished the season ranked 21st nationally in combined returns.

Tuiasosopo joined Mike Stoops’ staff at Arizona in 2004 and coached in Tucson for seven seasons, including his final three seasons where the Wildcats ranked highly in the nation in total defense (24th in 2008, 25th in 2009, 33rd in 2010). Arizona led the Pac-10 in quarterback sacks all three years, largely due to Tuiasosopo’s defensive front.

Tuiasosopo tutored All-Pac 10 performer Ricky Elmore in addition to Brooks Reed and De’Aundre Reed to 2011 NFL Draft selections. Reed was a second-round pick (No. 42 overall) by the Minnesota Vikings. Tuiasosopo also coached two others that earned all-conference honors and were drafted into the NFL, Earl Mitchell – a third-rounder in 2010 – and Lionel Dotson in 2008. In 2010, he tutored Justin Washington to several Freshman All-America honors.

Tuiasosopo spent the 2003 season on Urban Meyer’s staff at Utah where he coached the defensive tackles. That season, Utah went 10-2 with a victory in the Liberty Bowl en route to a No. 21 final ranking. Tuiasosopo was instrumental in the recruitment and development of Sione Pouha, a third-round selection by the New York Jets in 2005, and Jonathan Fanene, who was drafted that same year by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Tuiasosopo got his start in coaching in 1990 and 1991 when he led the defensive line and special teams at Montclair Academy in Van Nuys, California. He then went on to become a graduate assistant at Pacific in 1991 and 1992, while he was the head coach at Berkley High School in 1993 and 1994.

He earned his first full-time job collegiate job at Utah State in 1996, coaching four seasons for the Aggies. While in Logan, Tuiasosopo coached three All-Big West defensive linemen, including 1997 Big West Defensive Player of the Year Ben Crosland. That season, Crosland also earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from Sporting News, while he also earned All-Big West honors as a junior in 1996.

Tuiasosopo moved from Utah State to Nevada in 2000, coaching three seasons for the Wolfpack. At Nevada, he coached WAC sack leader Jorge Cordova, who was a third-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2004.

In addition to his work in high school and college, Tuiasosopo also served three NFL Minority Intern Fellowships, doing so with the San Francisco 49ers (1997), Green Bay Packers (2002) and Kansas City Chiefs (2013).

Tuiasosopo lettered four years as a defensive tackle at Pacific Lutheran University (1985-88), starting his final three years. He was a two-time First Team All-Columbia Conference performer, and in his junior year, Pacific Lutheran won the NAIA Division II National Championship. PLU was 36-7-2 during his career, and Tuiasosopo was the Lutes captain during his senior season.

Tuiasosopo comes from a football-rich family tradition. His uncle, Bob Apisa, was a two-time All-American fullback at Michigan State and was drafted by Green Bay in 1968. A cousin, Manu Tuiasosopo, was a two-time All-American defensive lineman at UCLA, was the No. 18 overall pick by Seattle in the 1979 NFL Draft and started for the Super Bowl XIX champion (1984 season) San Francisco 49ers.