Texas A&M - Kingsville Athletics

Coach Manako Tuifua joined the Javelina coaching staff in the Spring of 2023 as the defensive line coach after spending the 2022 season at Lane College in the same position. 

With the Dragons, Tuifua coached one defensive All-American in Andrew Farmer who led the country in tackles for loss, as the Dragons ranked highly nationally on defense with the second most defensive touchdowns and 11th in tackles for loss. 

Prior to his season at Lane, he served as the defensive line coach at Angelo State from March 2019 – February 2022 as the defensive line coach, Manako, helped produced one All-American defensive Iineman and seven All-Lone Star Conference selections. 

Additionally, he assisted the Rams defense to the to spot in several statistical categories within the LSC including; total defense, rush defense, third-down defense, defensive touchdowns, sacks and interceptions. The Rams also had the second-best past defense and scoring defense in the conference during his tenure. 

Tuifua’s first coaching stop was at Azusa Pacific beginning in 2013 after finishing his collegiate playing career at APU where he was named the GNAC Defensive Lineman of the Year in the Cougars’ first season of Division II competition. 

As a coach of the Cougars, Tuifua produced 15 all-conference defensive linemen and one lineman of the year contributing to the winningest five-year period in program history that featured four conference championships. 

A native of Hawaii, Tuifua played his first two seasons of college football at Pasadena City College before graduating from APU with a degree in sociology in 2013.