Al Lapuaho is in his first season as the defensive line coach at his alma mater.
In all, Lapuaho (pronounced Lah-poo-ah-ho) will be entering his fourth year with Utah State’s football program after spending the 2020 season as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant, and the 2018 and 2019 seasons as a defensive graduate assistant working with the defensive line.
During his two seasons working with the Aggies’ defensive line, Lapuaho helped Utah State play in consecutive bowl games. He also mentored three Aggies who earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors in Adewale Adeoye, Fua Leilua and Christopher ’Unga.
During the 2018 season at Utah State, Lapuaho helped the Aggies to a school-record-tying 11 victories and a 52-13 win against North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl. USU finished the season with an 11-2 record, including a 7-1 mark in the Mountain West, and was ranked 22nd in the final Associated Press poll. That season, USU set 36 school records and tied six others.
Lapuaho came to Utah State after spending the 2016 and 2017 seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Oregon State, where he worked specifically with the defensive line. Prior to joining the staff at Oregon State, Lapuaho worked as an account/capacity manager for England Logistics.
The native of West Valley City, Utah, earned first-team all-conference honors at Snow College before making his way to Utah State, where he spent his junior and senior seasons in 2011 and 2012.
Lapuaho started all 26 games during his career with the Aggies, finishing with 66 total tackles, which included 4.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss. He earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors as a senior as he led all USU defensive linemen with 35 tackles, which included 3.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss, while adding four quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.
During his two seasons at Utah State, Lapuaho helped Utah State snap a 14-year bowl drought as the team played in consecutive bowl games for just the second time in school history. USU also won the 2012 WAC title, its first outright league championship since 1936, as it finished the year with a school-record 11 wins after posting a 41-15 victory against Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. USU concluded the 2012 season ranked 16th in the final Associated Press poll, 17th in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll and 22nd in the final BCS standings.
After graduating from Utah State with an interdisciplinary studies degree emphasizing in psychology and physical education, Lapuaho signed an NFL free agent contract with the St. Louis Rams. During the 2013 NFL campaign, he spent time on the practice squad for both the Rams and Miami Dolphins. Lapuaho then joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014 and was on their preseason roster. He also played one season for the Colorado Crush of the Indoor Football League.
Lapuaho, who prepped at Granger High School in West Valley City, earned Utah Class 4A second-team all-state honors and first-team all-Region 6 accolades as a defensive lineman following his senior season in 2009.
Lapuaho and his wife, Tilisa, have one son, Bruce Polutele.
AL LAPUAHO FILE
Coaching History
2021- Utah State – Defensive Line
2020 Utah State – Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant
2018-19 Utah State – Defensive Graduate Assistant
2016-17 Oregon State – Defensive Graduate Assistant
Bowl Games (2)
Utah State (2): 2019 Frisco Bowl; 2018 New Mexico Bowl
Playing Experience
2014 Pittsburgh Steelers – Defensive Line
2013 Miami Dolphins – Defensive Line
2013 St. Louis Rams – Defensive Line
2011-12 Utah State – Defensive Line
2009-10 Snow College – Defensive Line
Education
2013 Utah State – Psychology and Physical Education (B.S.)
Family
Wife – Tilisa; Son – Bruce