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Donnell Leomiti enters his 13th overall season and fourth year as the Pack's Defensive Coordinator. In his first two seasons as the full-time defensive coordinator, Leomiti has been recognized as the 2019 American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II Assistant of the Year and the 2018 FootballScoop NCAA Division II Coordinator of the Year.
He has been CSU Pueblo’s defensive backs coach since the program restarted in 2008 and in 2017 took the role of co-defensive coordinator before gaining the full reins of the defense in 2018. He was also the recruiting coordinator his first 10 seasons.
In the three years Leomiti has been charged with the defense, the Pack have totaled seven All-Americans, 12 all-region players and 28 were named All-RMAC (two RMAC Defensive Player of the Year awards). In all three seasons the ThunderWolves have finished top five nationally in interceptions and top 10 in scoring defense. In those three seasons, the ThunderWolves own a 31-7 overall record and a 27-3 record in league play with three NCAA Playoff appearances (twice reaching the second round) and two RMAC Championships.
Leomiti has coached up an incredibly efficient defensive backfield in his first 12 seasons with the Pack, as he has guided nine All-Americans, 15 All-Region selections and a total of 38 All-RMAC selections.
A ball-hawk secondary has been a hallmark of the CSU-Pueblo defense under Leomiti, as the Pack defense has been ranked in the top 15 nationally in interceptions in 10 of the last 11 seasons, including three straight top ten finishes from 2009-11. CSU Pueblo led Division II in interceptions in 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2019.
The secondary on the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship team was something special. All four of the starting defensive backs were named All-RMAC, while corners Stephan Dickens and C.J. Roberts and safety Jarrod Lacy went on to earn All-America honors. LaRon Tarkington was the other starting safety and was named All-RMAC Honorable Mention as a sophomore.
The 2014 defense finished the season first in the nation in scoring defense (12.8 points allow per game), passes intercepted (29 interceptions), defensive touchdowns (7) and turnovers gained (43). The Pack ranked 13th in total defense (296.8 yards allowed per game).
He earned the AFCA Assistant of the Year honor in 2019 after the ThunderWolves finished 11-2 overall and 9-1 in RMAC play. Two members of the defense were named All-Americans and 10 gathered All-RMAC honors, while Jackson Wibbels was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Year. The Pack defense finished the season first in NCAA Division II in interceptions (30), turnovers gained (39) and defensive touchdowns (9), second in sacks (3.69 spg), fourth in rushing defense (74.9 ypg), fifth in scoring defense (15.0 ppg) and eighth in team passing efficiency defense (99.14). The Pack were 20th in the nation in total defense (296.1 ypg).
In 2018, his first season as the full defensive coordinator, the ThunderWolves lead the nation in passing efficiency defense (86.73), interceptions (28) and turnovers gained (45). The Pack went 11-2 overall with a 9-1 RMAC record that was good for an RMAC Championship. Three members of the defense were All-Americans, 10 gathered an all-conference nod and Brandon Payer was the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year. The team was second nationally in sacks per game (4.0), team tackles for loss per game (10.5) and fumbles recovered (17). The Pack was also top 10 in Division II in defensive touchdowns (3rd, 5), total defense (5th, 241.8), scoring defense (13.2) and rushing defense (6th, 83.2). Four defensive players earned tryouts with an NFL organization, while NG Deyon Sizer was signed by the Denver Broncos and played in one game in 2019.
As the co-defensive coordinator in 2017, the Pack finished second in team passing efficiency defense (87.69), fourth nationally in interceptions (23), fifth in scoring defense (14.4 ppg), sixth in total defense (271.9 ypg) eighth in defensive TDs (five) and 10th in turnovers gained (30). CSU Pueblo went 9-3 overall and won the RMAC Championships with a 9-1 league mark. Two defensive players gathered All-American honors, while seven of the eight All-RMAC selections were named to the first team.
In 2016, the ThunderWolves were 10th nationally in defensive touchdowns (5), 11th in scoring defense (17.4 ppg) and 19th in total defense (305.9 ypg).
The 2015 version of the secondary was third in interceptions (24), scoring defense (15.8 ppg) and 11th in turnovers gained (31).
In 2013, the Pack finished third nationally in turnovers gained with 35.
In 2011, Leomiti’s defensive backfield was the best in the nation, ranking first in interceptions and turnover ratio as the CSU Pueblo defense held opponents to the third-lowest points per game figure in the country.
In 2010, CSU Pueblo ranked third in total picks.
Prior to arriving at CSU-Pueblo, Leomiti had been the defensive technical intern at CU in 2005 and 2006. At CU, his responsibilities included working with the secondary as well as on-campus recruiting.
Leomiti arrived at CU after serving as a high school assistant coach from 1999-2004. He spent 1999 and 2000 at Denver North High School, and then followed that up with a four-year stint as linebackers coach at Boulder High School.
As a CU player, Leomiti was a member of many great teams in the mid-1990s. Starting out as a receiver at CU, he saw action in 11 games, including the Fiesta Bowl, as a true freshman in 1992. He moved to safety the following year, starting at strong safety as a junior and senior. He had 159 career tackles, including 98 as a senior (the third most on the team), along with three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and seven pass deflections. Two of his biggest plays came his junior year (1994): he returned an interception for a touchdown at Missouri and had a key fumble recovery in the fourth quarter at Michigan, a big play in the game now referred to as both “The Miracle in Michigan” and “The Catch.”
Born in Santa Ana, Calif., he graduated from Leone High School in Pavaiai, American Samoa, in 1992 where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He was a two-time Ashaa League most valuable player on offense, earning the honor his junior and senior years.
He is married to former CSU Pueblo All-American cross country athlete and CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Lauren Dunsmoor. The couple has five children: Donnell Jr., Siliaga, Malekai, Kae’ane and Myalyn.
Defensive Backs
All-Americans Under Leomiti (9)
Darius Williams - 2018
Emery Taylor, Darius Williams - 2017
Stephan Dickens, Jarrod Lacy, C.J. Roberts - 2014
C.J. Roberts - 2012
Stephan Dickens, Mark Sterling - 2011
All-Region Under Leomiti (15)
Tanner Draper, Darius Williams - 2018
Emery Taylor, Darius Williams - 2017
Darius Williams - 2015
Stephan Dickens, Jarrod Lacy, C.J. Roberts - 2014
Stephan Dickens, Jarrod Lacy, C.J. Roberts - 2013
C.J. Roberts - 2012
Stephan Dickens and Mark Sterling - 2011
Grant Crunkleton - 2010
