Colorado State University Pueblo

One of the first coaches hired when CSU Pueblo reinstated its football program, Donnell Leomiti helped build the ThunderWolves into one of NCAA Division II’s premier programs ... He coached the defensive backs when football returned in 2008 and served as the program’s recruiting coordinator for its first 10 seasons ... Leomiti was elevated to co-defensive coordinator in 2017 before taking over as defensive coordinator in 2018 ... During his tenure at CSU Pueblo, he coached nine All-Americans, 15 All-Region selections and 38 All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference honorees ... Under Leomiti’s guidance, the ThunderWolves developed one of the nation’s most opportunistic secondaries, leading NCAA Division II in interceptions in 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2019 ... His secondary played an integral role in CSU Pueblo’s run to the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship, as all four starting defensive backs earned All-RMAC honors and three went on to earn All-America recognition ... The 2014 defense led the nation in scoring defense at 12.8 points per game, interceptions with 29, defensive touchdowns with seven, and turnovers gained with 43 ... He played collegiate football at the University of Colorado before beginning his coaching career ... Leomiti passed away in 2020 following a courageous battle with pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma, which was diagnosed in the fall of 2013 ... His legacy continues through the countless student-athletes he coached and mentored and his lasting impact on the CSU Pueblo football program ... His wife, Lauren, who was a former women's cross country student-athlete, was inducted into the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.