Kansas State University Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Defensive Tackles
Mike Tuiasosopo, a veteran coach with over 30 years of experience, is in his seventh season at Kansas State coaching the interior defensive line in 2025.
Tuiasosopo (pronounced TWO-ee-AH-so-SO-po) and his defensive tackles have been instrumental in helping the Wildcats with their successful change to a 3-3-5 alignment prior to the 2021 season. Since the switch, K-State has averaged 21.8 points allowed per game to rank 24th nationally, 17th among Power 4 teams and third among current Big 12 programs. K-State has allowed fewer than 24.0 points per game each of the last three seasons, the first time doing so since 1991 through 2003.
In 2024, Tuiasosopo helped K-State rank in the top 30 in the nation in three defensive categories, as the Wildcats finished fourth in fourth down defense at 32.1% (first in Big 12), 25th in sacks per game at 2.69 (second in Big 12) and 28th in rushing yards allowed per game at 118.7 (second in Big 12).
In terms of rushing defense, K-State’s ranking and average was its best since 2007. Additionally, the Wildcats did not allow a 200-yard rushing game at any point in the season for the first time since 2016, while they were one of only two Big 12 teams to accomplish the feat in 2024. The best rushing defense effort of the year came in K-State’s 31-28 win at Colorado when the Wildcats limited the Buffaloes to -29 rushing yards, the third fewest in school history and second fewest of any team in the country in 2024.
The Wildcats’ interior defensive line was led by Damian Ilalio, who had 34 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. It was the most TFLs and sacks by a Wildcat defensive tackle since another Tuiasosopo protégé, Eli Huggins, in 2021, while it was the most tackles since Will Geary in 2017.
Under Tuiasosopo’s leadership, the Wildcats have boasted an All-Big 12 defensive tackle in each of the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons, including Uso Seumalo in the final year of that stretch. Seumalo and the tackles helped the K-State defense finish the season ranked in the top 30 nationally in eight categories, placing 11th in third-down defense (30.2%), 16th in fumble recovered (10), 18th in pass efficiency defense (118.63), 20th in turnovers gained (23), 25th in interceptions (13), 26th in scoring defense (21.0), 28th in first downs allowed (225) and 30th in red zone defense (89.2%). Although the Wildcats allowed points in nearly 90% of their opponents’ red zone attempts, only 39.4% of those resulted in touchdowns, which was the second-best mark in the nation.
Thanks in part to Tuiasosopo’s coaching, the defense helped the Wildcats win the 2022 Big 12 Championship as they ranked in the top 30 nationally in five categories, including a No. 18 ranking in fourth down defense (39.4%). One of the biggest fourth-down stops of the year came from Huggins, who assisted on a 4th and Goal stop in overtime of the Big 12 Championship just prior to the game-winning field goal during the 31-28 victory over No. 3 TCU. Tuiasosopo coached Huggins to All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades in both 2021 and 2022.
Tuiasosopo’s linemen also helped the 2022 Wildcats rank 14th nationally in total turnovers (24), 27th in third down defense (34.0%) and 29th in scoring defense (21.9).
The 2021 season saw the Wildcats cut 11.2 points per game allowed off their total from the previous year as K-State’s 21.0 points per game surrendered ranked 23rd in the nation and fourth in the Big 12, and it was K-State’s best mark since 2003. K-State also ranked 29th in the nation and third in the Big 12 by allowing 344.7 yards per game – its best effort since 2009 – while the Wildcats allowed only 129.5 rushing yards per game to stand as their best mark in four seasons. The Wildcat defensive tackles also helped K-State rack up 90 tackles for loss on the year – the most since 2006 – to rank 10th in school history.
Tuiasosopo’s interior defensive line group in 2021 was led by Huggins, who set a career best with 3.0 sacks and tied his career best with 6.0 tackles for loss. Graduate transfer defensive tackle Timmy Horne enjoyed a productive year under Tuiasosopo before signing a rookie free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
In year two, Tuiasosopo’s defensive tackles helped the Wildcats rank fourth in the Big 12 and 24th in the nation sacks, the Wildcats’ best mark nationally in five years. Senior Drew Wiley, who was starting for the first time in his career, earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors from the Associated Press after tying for 10th in the Big 12 in sacks (4.5) and 14th in tackles for loss (9.0). Those two totals were the most by a Wildcat interior defensive lineman since 2017.
In his first season in 2019, Tuiasosopo helped the Wildcats rank second in the nation in third-down defense (28.0%) – their lowest mark since at least 2003 – and surrender only 368.4 yards per game – the best by a K-State defense since 2013. Additionally, K-State allowed its fewest points per game – 21.4 – since 2003.
The defense was led in part by a duo of starting senior defensive tackles coached by Tuiasosopo, Trey Dishon and Jordan Mittie. Dishon, who was a four-year starter, set career highs in tackles (30) and tackles for loss (5.0), while he tied his career high in sacks (3.0). Mittie, a former graduate transfer, carded 33 tackles and tied a career high with 5.5 TFLs.
Tuiasosopo came to Manhattan after serving one season as the defensive line coach at UTEP. Prior to his time in El Paso, he served as the special teams quality control assistant at USC in 2017, which claimed the Pac-12 Conference title for the first time in nine years. The Trojans were effective in the return game, ranking third in the Pac-12 in kickoff returns (23.5 yards per return) and punt returns (11.9 yards per return).
Before serving as the special teams quality control assistant, Tuiasosopo served as an offensive consultant for USC in 2016, and he was a volunteer football analyst for the Trojans the season prior.
USC was the latest of several stops throughout the Pac-10/12 as he coached the outside linebackers and special teams at UCLA in 2014 after coaching the defensive line at Colorado in 2011 and 2012, while he coached the defensive tackles at Arizona from 2004 to 2010.
While in Westwood, the 2014 Bruin defense finished the year garnering the No. 3 spot in total defense (398.5 yards per game) in the Pac-12, which featured Tuiasosopo product Deon Hollins becoming the Bruins’ sack leader in his first season as a starter. On special teams, the kickoff coverage unit ranked second in the Pac-12 as returner Ishmael Adams finished the season ranked 21st nationally in combined returns.
Tuiasosopo began a stint at Arizona in 2004 and coached in Tucson for seven seasons, including his final three seasons where the Wildcats ranked highly in the nation in total defense (24th in 2008, 25th in 2009, 33rd in 2010). Arizona led the Pac-10 in quarterback sacks all three years, largely due to Tuiasosopo’s defensive front.
Tuiasosopo tutored All-Pac 10 performer Ricky Elmore in addition to Brooks Reed and De’Aundre Reed to 2011 NFL Draft selections. Reed was a second-round pick (No. 42 overall) by the Minnesota Vikings. Tuiasosopo also coached two others that earned all-conference honors and were drafted into the NFL, Earl Mitchell – a third-rounder in 2010 – and Lionel Dotson in 2008. In 2010, he tutored Justin Washington to several Freshman All-America honors.
Tuiasosopo spent the 2003 season at Utah where he coached the defensive tackles. That season, Utah went 10-2 with a victory in the Liberty Bowl en route to a No. 21 final ranking. Tuiasosopo was instrumental in the recruitment and development of Sione Pouha, a third-round selection by the New York Jets in 2005, and Jonathan Fanene, who was drafted that same year by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tuiasosopo got his start in coaching in 1990 and 1991 when he led the defensive line and special teams at Montclair Academy in Van Nuys, California. He then went on to become a graduate assistant at Pacific in 1991 and 1992, while he was the head coach at Berkley High School from 1993 through 1995.
He earned his first full-time job collegiate job at Utah State in 1996, coaching four seasons for the Aggies. While in Logan, Tuiasosopo coached three All-Big West defensive linemen, including 1997 Big West Defensive Player of the Year Ben Crosland. That season, Crosland also earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from Sporting News, while he also earned All-Big West honors as a junior in 1996.
Tuiasosopo moved from Utah State to Nevada in 2000, coaching three seasons for the Wolfpack. At Nevada, he coached WAC sack leader Jorge Cordova, who was a third-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2004.
In addition to his work in high school and college, Tuiasosopo also served three NFL Minority Intern Fellowships, doing so with the San Francisco 49ers (1997), Green Bay Packers (2002) and Kansas City Chiefs (2013).
Tuiasosopo lettered four years as a defensive tackle at Pacific Lutheran University (1985-88), starting his final three years. He was a two-time First Team All-Columbia Conference performer, and in his junior year, Pacific Lutheran won the NAIA Division II National Championship. PLU was 36-7-2 during his career, and Tuiasosopo was the Lutes’ captain during his senior season.
Tuiasosopo comes from a football-rich family tradition. His uncle, Bob Apisa, was a two-time All-American fullback at Michigan State and was drafted by Green Bay in 1968. A cousin, Manu Tuiasosopo, was a two-time All-American defensive lineman at UCLA, was the No. 18 overall pick by Seattle in the 1979 NFL Draft and started for the Super Bowl XIX champion (1984 season) San Francisco 49ers.
One of Tuiasosopo’s younger brothers, Navy, lettered at Utah State from 1983 to 1986 and played for both the Los Angeles Rams and St. Louis Cardinals. Another younger sibling, Titus, played for USC from 1988 to 1991. Two more of Tuiasosopo’s cousins played collegiately and in the NFL – John Tautolo (offensive line, UCLA/New York Giants, New England) and Terry Tautolo (linebacker, UCLA/Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco, Miami). His nephew, Marques Tuiasosopo, was a quarterback at Washington and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders before also playing for the New York Jets.
Tuiasosopo graduated from Pacific Lutheran with a degree in physical education and health in 1989, while he earned his master’s degree from Pacific in Education Administration Credentials in 1992.
Tuiasosopo and his wife, Kathy, have four children: Lanea, Maya, Titus and Luke.Lanea, Maya, Titus and Luke. Titus is a defensive tackle for the Wildcats.
The Tuiasosopo File
| PERSONAL INFORMATION |
|---|
| Year in Coaching: 35th |
| Year at K-State: Seventh |
| Hometown: Carson, California |
| Spouse: Kathy |
| Children: Lanea, Maya, Titus, Luke |
| EDUCATION |
|---|
| Pacific Lutheran (1989) Bachelor's in Physical Education and Health Pacific (1992) Master's Education Administration Credentials |
| PLAYING EXPERIENCE |
|---|
| Pacific Lutheran, Defensive Tackle (1985-88) |
| PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE |
|---|
| 1990-91, Montclair Academy (Defensive Line/Special Teams) |
| 1991-93, Pacific (Graduate Assistant) |
| 1993-94, Berkley HS (Head Coach) |
| 1996-99, Utah State (Defensive Line) |
| 2000-02, Nevada (Defensive Line) |
| 2003, Utah (Defensive Tackles) |
| 2004-10, Arizona (Defensive Tackles/Line) |
| 2011-12, Colorado (Defensive Line) |
| 2014, UCLA (Outside Linebackers/Special Teams) |
| 2015, USC (Volunteer Football Analyst) |
| 2016, USC (Offensive Consultant) |
| 2017, USC (Special Teams Assistant) |
| 2018, UTEP (Defensive Line) |
| 2019-25, Kansas State (Defensive Tackles) |
