Utah State University Athletics

Jray Galea’i (Ngah-lay-ah-ee) is in his second season with Utah State as a junior analyst for the defense and works primarily with the linebackers. The 2026 campaign will be his fourth year working for head coach Bronco Mendenhall.

In his first year at Utah State in 2025, Galea’i  helped Utah State to a 6-7 record (4-4 Mountain West) and its 12th bowl game in the last 15 years. With Galea’i on staff, USU had six defenders earn All-MW honors as cornerback Noah Avinger and linebacker John Miller were both named to the first-team, while defensive tackle Gabriel Iniguez Jr., linebacker Bronson Olevao Jr., and safeties Brevin Hamblin and Ike Larsen were both named honorable mention. Avinger highlighted these honorees as he was named a HERO Sports Group of Five Second Team All-American.

Utah State had one defender honored by the MW during the season as Hamblin was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week following his performance against Nevada as he had a team-high eight tackles, including a career-high-tying 1.0 sacks and a season-high 1.5 tackles for loss, to go along with an interception he returned 38 yards for a touchdown. Hamblin also recovered a fumble in the red zone at the 1-yard line.

Defensively, Utah State forced 17 turnovers during the season with 13 interceptions and four fumbles and limited its opponents to just 17 points during the year following 11 Aggie turnovers.

Galea’i came to Utah State after spending the past three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Timpview High School in Provo, Utah. During the 2023 season, he helped the Thunderbirds win the 5A state championship.

Prior to his time at Timpview HS, Galea’i was an assistant coach at Orem (UT) High School from 2020-21, working with the cornerbacks. During his time with the Tigers, he helped the program to the 2020 state championship under head coach Gabe Sewell.

Galea’i played at BYU from 2009-12 and began his coaching career as a student assistant at BYU in 2012 and in 2015.

Galea’i prepped at Kahuku High School in Honolulu and earned first-team All-State honors as a defensive back during his senior season and honorable mention All-State honors as a junior. He played his sophomore season at Timpview HS, as a member of the Thunderbirds 2006 4A state championship team. Galea’i also played basketball at Kahuku HS and was the Defensive MVP of the Oahu Interscholastic Association as a senior and was invited to play in the McDonald’s All-American game.

Galea’i is majoring in integrated studies at Utah State and has an anticipated graduation date of spring of 2026. He is married to Sina Maile, who is the niece of former USU football player and assistant coach Frank Maile.

Galea’i is the nephew of Mark Atuaia, who is the running backs coach at Utah and was at Washington State prior to that in the same role. Atuaia coached under Mendenhall at BYU and Virginia.