After serving as defensive line coach in his first season on the Rainbow Warrior coaching staff, Lawrence “Legi” Suiaunoa takes over as defensive coordinator in 2017.
Suiaunoa will continue to run a 4-3 defense while coaching the defensive tackles. Special teams coordinator Mayur Chaudhari will assist with the defensive ends.
Last season, UH’s defensive line play was superb with Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea and Kory Rasmussen starting all but one game. Meffy Koloamatangi was an honorable mention all-Mountain West pick and Penitito Faalologo anchored the middle despite missing several games due to injury. A number of other players received extensive time in the rotation including underclassmen Zeno Choi, Viane Moala, and Sam Akoteu.
Suiaunoa came to UH after five seasons as defensive line coach at the University of Montana, where he developed numerous all-conference players as a foundation for the Grizzlies’ consistent top-level defense. During the 2013-14 seasons at UM, Suiaunoa also served in the role of associate head coach.
Under his guidance, senior consensus All-American defensive end Tyrone Holmes led the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in sacks (18) in 2015, and wrapped his career with 34.5 sacks, ranking second on the school’s all-time leaders list behind another Suiaunoa pupil, Zach Wagenma. Holmes was one of three finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year) in 2015.
In addition, Suiaunoa mentored defensive tackle Caleb Kidder to first-team all-Big Sky Conference honors after a 71-tackle junior campaign in 2015 following an injury rehab, logging seven pass deflections, six pass break-ups, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick.
In 2014, Montana ranked among the FCS leaders in several defensive categories. The Griz were ranked seventh in the country in sacks (3.20 SPG), 19th in scoring defense (21.0 PPG), and 36th in tackles for loss (6.8 TFL/Gm).
Over the previous three seasons, Suiaunoa also guided the development of record-setting defensive end Zach Wagenmann, who was named first team all-Big Sky and was tabbed 2014 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year. Under Suiaunoa’s tutelage, Wagenmann set school records in career sacks (37.5), career tackles for loss (53), and career forced fumbles (11).
Senior defensive tackle Tonga Takai joined Wagenmann on the league’s first team in 2014, while Holmes and defensive tackle Trevor Rehm were honorable-mention selections that season.
In 2013, UM ranked second in the FCS in sacks (3.73 per game), fourth in rush defense (92.55 yards per game), fifth in fumble recoveries (16), and 28th in scoring defense (22.9 PPG).
Suiaunoa came to Montana from Portland State, where he worked with the defensive line during the 2010 season.
Prior to his stint at PSU, he spent the 2009 season at Eastern Oregon as the defensive coordinator following a four-year stint at Western Washington (2005-08) coaching defensive line and linebackers, in addition to serving as strength and conditioning coach.
He was a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of Nevada, in 2004.
Suiaunoa began his coaching career at Palomar (Calif.) Junior College in 2002-03, working with the linebackers. The Comets were 8-3 in 2003, reaching the first round of Southern California JC playoffs and were 10-1 in 2002, winning the Mission Conference championship and were ranked fourth in the nation in the final JC Grid-Wire Poll.
While his player career began at Palomar, he moved on to a three-year career as a linebacker at Nevada, earning his general studies administration degree in 2002. He was a two-year starter for the Wolf Pack and was recipient of the 2001 Coaches’ Award.
An Oceanside, Calif., native, Suiaunoa and his wife, Rose, have three girls—Malae, Sarai, and Rosalani; two sons—Lawrence and Ramsey; and an infant daughter, Timena.
The Suiaunoa File
Hometown: Oceanside, Calif.
Alma Mater: Nevada, General Studies Administration (2002)
Playing Experience
1997: Palomar Junior College (Linebacker)
1998-2001: Nevada (Linebacker)
Coaching Experience
2017: Hawai‘i, Defensive Coordinator (Defensive Tackles)
2016: Hawai‘i, Assistant (Defensive Line)
2011-2015: Montana, Assistant (Defensive Line)
2010: Portland State, Assistant (Defensive Line)
2009: Eastern Oregon, Defensive Coordinator (Defensive Line/Linebackers/Strength)
2005-08: Western Washington, Assistant (Defensive Line)
2004: Nevada (Graduate Assistant)
2002-03: Palomar Junior College, Assistant (Linebackers)
