Miami Hurricanes hire former NFL player and Oregon assistant to coach the defensive line
The Miami Hurricanes have announced the hiring of Miami’s defensive line coach — another assistant coming East from Oregon.
That man is Joe Salave’a, 46, a long-time NFL player who spent the past five seasons at Oregon as the defensive line coach, as well as the co-defensive coordinator, run-game coordinator and associate head coach.
At UM, he will also serve as defensive associate head coach and run-game coordinator.
“The University of Miami is committed to physicality and controlling the line of scrimmage,” coach Mario Cristobal said in a statement. “Coach Salave’a’s eight years in the trenches of the NFL and his college coaching experience are the driving forces behind an elite recruiter, coach and developer of the talent. Coach Salave’a is a tremendous leader of men, and I know that mental and physical toughness will be traits of the Miami Hurricanes defensive line. He will make his impact felt in the culture and identity of our program.”
After their bowl game, the Ducks were ranked 53rd of 130 FBS teams in rushing defense in 2021, allowing 144.1 ground yards a game. Oregon was ranked 104th with 20 sacks for a 1.64 average a game and 90th in total sacks with 23. The Ducks were 110th in tackles for loss (4.5 a game).
Salave’a coached and developed nationally touted defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, who finished 2021 with 12 tackles for loss, seven, sacks, eight quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles along with 49 total tackles.
Salave’a replaces UM line coach Jess Simpson, the former Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach who did an admirable job replacing NFL-bound defensive end Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche. In 2021, Miami was ranked 44th in rushing defense (139 yards allowed a game). The Canes were ranked 36th nationally with 2.75 sacks a game and 42th in total sacks with 33. The Canes were 10th nationally in tackles for loss (7.4 a game).
“What an honor,” Salave’a said in a statement. “I’m blessed to have the opportunity to continue to work for Coach Cristobal. The opportunity here is tremendous. I want to get to work – I want to get to know our guys in the building and connect with them, start putting together the pieces and really start this entire process.”
Salave’a coached from 2012 to 16 at Washington State, in 2011 at Arizona and in 2008-09 at San Jose State.
Salave’a is a member of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame and an eight-year NFL veteran who played five years with the Tennessee Titans, split 2002 with the Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers and ended with three years with the then-Washington Redskins before retiring after the 2006 season. He was a standout defensive tackle in college with Arizona.
Salave’a is a native of Leone, American Samoa, and is very involved with promoting football among Samoan youth. He founded the Joe Salave’a Foundation in 2001 “to help introduce the game and strengthen its appeal,’’ according to his bio.
This story was originally published January 7, 2022 at 5:15 PM.
