Kevin Clune joins the University of Hawai‘i football coaching staff as defensive coordinator in 2014. Clune comes to UH from Utah State, where he was linebackers coach for the past five seasons.
“I am honored and excited to be a part of Coach Norm Chow’s staff and the Hawai‘i football program,” Klune said. “I look forward to the new challenges that this opportunity will bring. I cannot wait to start spring ball and the new season.”
Over the past two seasons, the Aggie defense ranked among the nation’s best, including seventh in scoring defense in 2012 (15.4 ppg) and 2013 (17.1). USU also ranked 15th in total defense in 2012 (322.1 ypg) and 12th in 2013 (330.9). The Aggies were ranked No. 1 in the Mountain West in eight defensive categories last season while three of his linebackers earned all-conference honors.
In addition to coaching the linebackers at USU, Clune coordinated the punt return team and assisted in all other phases of special teams. He also coached and assisted all phases of defensive play, game planning, scouting, and play-calling. As part of USU’s staff last season, the Aggies captured the MW’s Mountain Division and played in the inaugural MW Championship Game where they defeated Northern Illinois 21-14 in the Poinsettia Bowl. The USU defense held Heisman Trophy finalist Jordan Lynch and the NIU offense to a season-low in points and total offense (315).
At Utah State, Clune coached all-conference linebackers Bobby Wagner, Jake Doughty, Zach Vigil, and Kyler Fackrell. Wagner was a three-time first-team all-Western Athletic Conference pick and concluded his career with 446 tackles, ranking first all-time in league history.
Clune came to Utah State after four years as Weber State’s defensive coordinator (2005-08), helping the Wildcats to a share of the Big Sky Conference title and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in 2008. That season, Clune’s defense was fourth in the league in total defense (363.9 ypg) and led the Big Sky in pass defense (208.4 ypg). WSU also led the conference in pass efficiency defense (109.4), which ranked 17th in FCS.
Under Clune, Weber State’s defense also ranked second in the Big Sky in both 2006 and ’07. The 2007 Wildcat defense yielded an average of just 348.4 yards per game. WSU also ranked first in the league in pass defense (212.2 ypg) and third in rushing defense (136.2 ypg). At WSU, Clune coached 15 all-Big Sky honorees, including second-team All-American Brady Fosmark in 2005.
Prior to Weber State, Clune served as defensive coordinator at Southern Utah in 2003 and ’04. Clune mentored outside linebacker Nick DiPadova, who earned second-team Division I-AA All-America honors in 2004 and was honorable mention in 2003, and Marques Harris, who earned third-team All-American accolades in 2004.
Clune was a graduate assistant at Utah in 2001 and ’02 working with both the running backs and linebackers. He also spent one year as Occidental College’s defensive line coach in 2000 and linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Fullerton College from 1997-99. He began his coaching career at Palma High School in 1991 and also coached at Dos Pueblos High School.
Clune was a defensive lineman at Fullerton JC for one year and spent one season at the University of San Diego. Clune earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Cal State Fullerton in 2000.
The Clune File
Born: Carmel, Calif.
Education
Cal State Fullerton, 2000, Bachelor's in Kinesiology
Coaching Experience
2009-13: Utah State, Linebackers
2005-08: Weber State, Defensive Coordinator
2003-04: Southern Utah, Defensive Coordinator
2001-02: Utah, Graduate Assistant
2000: Occidental College, Defensive Line
1997-99: Fullerton JC, Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers
1994-95: Dos Pueblos (Calif.) HS, Linebackers
1991: Palma (Calif.) HS, Defensive Line/Receivers
