Assistant Coach | Linebackers
Portland State ‘92
2022: 7th Season at SUU
Ahead of the 2016 season, which was his first season as head coach, Demario Warren brought in Solomona Tapasa to serve as SUU’s Co-Defensive Coordinator and coach the linebacking unit. Since then, Tapasa has transitioned into a role as assistant coach overseeing the linebackers for Southern Utah.
While coaching the LB’s in Cedar City, Tapasa has worked with some of the best to play the position at SUU.
The 2021 spring season so Tapasa mentor All-American and All-Big Sky linebacker La'akea Kaho'ohanohano-Davis.
In 2018, the team’s two leading tacklers were both linebackers. Chinedu Ahanonu finished the year with 92 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and two sacks. Lined up next to him, Taylor Nelson had 83 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and four fumble recoveries on the season.
Ahanonu finished his career four on the All-Time Tackles list for the eThunderbirds, accumulating 344 over the course of his career.
Tapasa comes to SUU from the Hornets of Sacramento State where he served as defensive line coach.
Before his stint at Sacramento State, Tapasa was at Western Oregon where he served as the offensive line coach for three seasons. He also had experiences at Eastern Oregon, Humboldt State, Southern Utah and played at Portland State.
In his final season at Western Oregon (2013), the team posted a 7-4 overall record and averaged 30.4 points per game.
Prior to working at Western Oregon, Tapasa was the defensive coordinator at Eastern Oregon in 2010. From 2008-09 he was the defensive line coach at Humboldt State. Tapasa spent 2007 at Southern Utah as the defensive line coach. That job followed a three-year run at Western Oregon (2004-06) in the same role.
Along with coaching his primary position group, Tapasa has also been responsible for the long snappers, punters and kickers for all but one season of his coaching career.
Prior to joining the collegiate coaching ranks, Tapasa spent time serving as an assistant football coach at Sunset High School in Portland, Ore., and at Estacada (Ore.) High School.
Tapasa earned his Bachelor's Degree in pre-law at Portland State in 1992 before receiving his Master's in Health Education from Western Oregon in 2006. A native of American Samoa, he and his wife, Joanna, have five daughters. One of his daughters, Mo Tapasa, is a former member of the Thunderbird women’s basketball team.
