Levi Suiaunoa was elevated as the Defensive Coordinator for CSU Pueblo football coaching staff following the conclusion of the 2021 season.
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.
Suiaunoa joined the CSU Pueblo football coaching staff for the 2020 season as an assistant coach with the linebackers.
Suiaunoa served as the Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He also served as the Interim Head Coach from November of 2019 to February of 2020. As the defensive coordinator he supervised, evaluated and trained the defensive position coaches, developed and implemented defensive schemes and strategies and all defensive practice programs.
The Hardrockers defense improved in many areas in 2019, which included ranking third in Division II with seven defensive touchdowns. The team dropped their points per game allowed by 12 points and decreased their touchdowns allowed by 22. The Hardrockers also improved on their third down defense, red zone touchdown ratio and increased their sack totals. He coached four All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference players.
Prior to SDSM&T, Suiaunoa served as the Head Football Coach at Decatur High School in Federal Way, Wash for four seasons. As the head coach he was responsible for supervising, evaluating, training and mentoring 70 student-athletes, while overseeing eight assistant football coaches. During his time at Decatur High School he assisted 20 student-athletes in college enrollment and had the first student-athlete to earn a Division I football scholarship in 20 years. He also improved the graduation rate and increased participation and retention numbers within the football program by 40 percent. Suiaunoa cultivated relationships with parents and community organizations and increased funding for the football program.
After two seasons as the defensive line coach and equipment manager at Eastern Oregon University in 2009 and 2010, Suiaunoa was promoted to Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach. He spent three seasons in that role where he immediately dropped the points per game allowed by 10 points in 2011. The squad also improved on touchdowns allowed, rush defense, fourth down conversion percentage and had an increase in defensive touchdowns. Suring his five total seasons, Suiaunoa developed three NAIA All-Americans, two CoSIDA Academic All-America selections and numerous all-conference honorees. He recruited the school’s all-time leader in rushing, touchdown returns and receptions and also recruited the school’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns and passing yards. He was also heavily involved with camps and community service.
Suiaunoa earned a bachelor of arts in general studies from University of Nevada, Reno and is scheduled to complete of master of arts in sports management from Concordia University, St. Paul in September of 2020.
