Justin Ena, who has 11 years of collegiate coaching experience, including six seasons as defensive coordinator, is in his second season at Utah State coaching the inside linebackers. Ena, who has coached in four bowl games, also served as USU’s defensive coordinator last season.
In 2019, Ena (Eh-nuh) helped four defensive players earn all-Mountain West honors, including linebacker David Woodward, who was named to the first team. Ena also helped Utah State’s defense force 24 turnovers (13 fumbles, 11 interceptions) to rank second in the MW and 15th in the nation. In fact, USU’s 13 fumble recoveries were tied for fifth nationally and led the conference.
At season’s end, Ena helped Utah State to its 14th bowl game all-time, including its eighth in the past nine seasons, as it played in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl.
Previously, Ena spent four seasons at Utah serving as the Utes’ co-special teams coordinator for three of those years, and working with the linebackers all four seasons.
During the 2018 season, Ena helped Utah’s defense rank among the top-20 in the nation in several categories, including fifth in rushing defense (101.8 yards allowed per game), ninth in tackles for loss (7.9 per game), 15th in total defense (315.1 yards allowed per game) and 16th in scoring defense (18.5 points per game allowed).
Under Ena, the linebackers helped Utah rank in the top-30 in rushing defense in each of the last four seasons, including a No. 5 ranking in 2018 and a No. 6 ranking in 2015.
Individually, Ena coached Utah linebacker Chase Hansen to three All-America honors. Hansen, who led Utah with 114 tackles, led the Pac-12 and ranked fifth in the nation with 22.0 tackles for loss. He also tied for fourth nationally in tackles for loss per game (1.7). Hansen, who tied for fourth in the Pac-12 with 5.0 sacks, recorded at least 10 tackles in six games. Hansen was also named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week twice.
In all, Ena coached two linebackers to all-Pac-12 honors in 2018 as Hansen was named to the first team and senior Cody Barton earned honorable mention honors. Barton was drafted in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, while Hansen signed an NFL free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints.
Linebackers Gionni Paul (first team) and Jared Norris (second team) earned all-Pac-12 honors in Ena’s first season with the Utes in 2015. Paul led the Utes in tackles with 117 and was a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week as a senior. Norris is in his fourth season as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers.
As co-special teams coordinator at Utah, Ena’s coverage units played a role in the Utes winning the NCAA net punting title in 2016, while the 2017 team finished fifth in the nation in net punting and the 2018 team ranked 15th. Furthermore, Utah had three kickers earn All-America honors in Ena’s four years at Utah in punter Tom Hackett (2015), punter Mitch Wishnowsky (2016, 2017, 2018) and kicker Matt Gay (2017, 2018).
Prior to Utah, Ena was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Weber State in 2014 and a six-year assistant at Southern Utah from 2008-13, including the last four as the defensive coordinator. He was also SUU’s special teams coordinator his first two seasons.
Southern Utah achieved NCAA FCS top-25 national rankings on both special teams and defense with Ena as a coordinator, including a No. 1 rank in net punting in 2009. The Thunderbirds also ranked No. 3 in punt return average and No. 6 in net punting in 2008, No. 9 in punt return average in 2009, No. 17 in scoring defense, No. 21 in total defense and No. 21 in run defense in 2010, No. 13 in sacks per game and No. 19 in pass defense in 2011, and No. 5 in turnover margin in 2012.
The 2013 T-Birds finished second in the Big Sky Conference in total defense and third in scoring defense.
Individual honors during Ena’s time at SUU included two-year All-America punter Trevor Ward and return specialist Nick Miller, the nation’s leader in all-purpose yards in 2008. Other accolades went to All-America defensive tackle Cody Larsen and Freshman All-Americans Zak Browning (linebacker), and James Cowser (defensive end). Browning was the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year in 2012.
The Thunderbirds placed 12 defenders on the all-Great West Conference team from 2010-11, including 10 first-team selections. Tyler Osborne became SUU’s first GWC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.
Ena earned his bachelor’s degree in history from BYU in 2001. He was a three-year starter and three-time Mountain West all-conference linebacker for the Cougars. He played four seasons in the NFL, three with the Philadelphia Eagles and one with the Tennessee Titans, playing in 47 NFL games from 2002-05.
Ena and his wife, Dana, have one son, Justice, and one daughter, Olivia.
Justin Ena File
Coaching History:
2020 – Utah State – Inside Linebackers
2019 – Utah State – Defensive Coordinator/ILB
2016-18 – Utah – Co-Special Teams Coordinator/LB
2015 – Utah – Linebackers
2014 – Weber State – Defensive Coordinator/LB
2010-13 – Southern Utah – Defensive Coordinator/LB
2008-09 – Southern Utah – Special Teams Coordinator
Bowl Games (4):
Utah State (1) – Frisco, 2019
Utah (3) – Heart of Dallas, 2017; Foster Farms, 2016; Las Vegas, 2015
Playing Experience:
2005 – Tennessee Titans – Linebacker
2002-04 – Philadelphia Eagles – Linebacker
1998-2001 – BYU – Linebacker
Education:
2001 – BYU – History
Family:
Wife, Dana; Son, Justice; Daughter, Olivia