PUEBLO, Colo. (Feb. 9, 2022) – Colorado State University football named Levi Suiaunoa as the new defensive coordinator, as announced by Head Football Coach John Wristen. On top of the elevation of Suiaunoa, Herman Smith was named the Defensive Run Game Coordinator. Wristen also welcomes Ryan Tuley as a defensive assistant.
 
Suiaunoa has assisted and played an integral part in developing and coaching the notoriously strong Pack defense since June 2020 as the Inside Linebackers Coach. In his year and a half as the Inside Linebackers Coach, Suiaunoa also served as an academic liaison for the defense and ensured classroom success for his position group while also developing his players on the field.
 
Wristen talked about the decision of elevating Suiaunoa by stating, "I'm really excited. Levi's had experience as defensive coordinator and I believe he's going to carry on the great tradition of Pack defenses while spinning it his way."
 
This is Suiaunoa's third stint as a defensive coordinator. The newly named Pack Defensive Coordinator served as the Defensive Coordinator at Eastern Oregon University from 2011 to 2014 before he served as a head coach for Decatur High School in Federal Way, Wash. 
 
Suiaunoa's four-year tenure at Decatur was followed by his second spell as Defensive Coordinator, this time at fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) school, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. As Defensive Coordinator and eventually interim Head Coach, Suiaunoa oversaw a strong defense that improved a defensive red zone efficiency by 19% and one that ranked third in the nation in defensive scores (seven). 
 
Coach Suiaunoa will inherit a defense which ranked 20th in scoring defense and 22nd in team passing efficiency defense. The Pack defense scored five touchdowns on the 2021 season which ranked fourth in the nation.
 
"I think he has built a great trust with the players he's coached and I am looking forward to our growth on defense with Levi as our coordinator," said Wristen.
 
Also beginning the upcoming 2022 season in a new role, Smith steps into the Defensive Run Game Coordinator position. 
 
"I felt like I had two guys who could have been Defensive Coordinator in Levi and Herm. Herm was willing to take the role of Run Game Coordinator and I love working with Herm because he has great passion and great energy," said Wristen. 
 
Smith has been with the Pack defense since 2017 as the Defensive Line Coach. Throughout his time as the line coach, Smith has coached three All-Americans, two professional linemen and six players named to All-RMAC all while being a part of two teams that earned the RMAC Championship title. 
 
"He has grown as a coach I look forward to his development as the Running Game Coordinator. I think he and Levi will work well together and carry on the great tradition of Pack defenses with their own ideas and plans," said Wristen. 
 
Smith has been a coach since 2008 and has been in the college field since beginning as the Defensive Line Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator in 2013 at Victor Valley College in Victorville, Calif. 
 
In his time at Victor Valley, Smith helped the program to a 25-5 overall record which featured the top-ranked defense in California JuCo in 2014. Victor Valley went on to claim its first national ranking in 2015, as the team sat 25th nationally thanks to Smith's coaching efforts on the defensive end.
 
After the Pack claimed an All-American on the defensive line in 2021, Smith will look to carry that success over to the defensive ground game which ranked 37th in the nation.
 
A fresh face to the Pack is Tuley. The newcomer joins CSU Pueblo after most recently serving at the high school level at Calloway County High School in Kentucky. Tuley also served Mullen High School in Denver prior to his stint at Colloway County. 
 
"Ryan comes from a coaching family and has coached football here in the state after wanting a chance in college. We are looking forward to see his growth as a young coach. He will be a guy who can help us grow as a team," said Coach Wristen.
 
The CSU Pueblo Football is currently in off-season training and will begin spring football in March. The Pack kick off their 2022 season on Sept. 3 at Midwestern State Texas.