Tevita Finau (Teh-vee-tuh Fee-now) is in his first season as Utah State’s defensive line coach. Overall, he has three years of collegiate coaching experience, has coached in two bowl games and been a part of two conference championships.
Finau came to Utah State after spending the previous three years (2020-22) as a graduate assistant/administrative assistant at the University of Utah, helping the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 Championships and Rose Bowl appearances.
During the 2022 season, Finau was part of a Utes defense that led the Pac-12 in sacks (2.93 pg) and tackles for loss (6.4 pg), and ranked second in total defense allowing 334.1 yards per game.
Finau also worked with the 2022 Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship, working with the defensive line of the Los Angeles Rams.
In 2021, Finau helped coach a Utah defense that led the Pac-12 in sacks (3.0 pg) and tackles for loss (6.9 pg), and ranked third in total defense allowing 341.6 yards per game.
Finau also helped Junior Tafuna to second-team all-Pac 12 honors during both the 2021 and 2022 campaigns.
Prior to entering the collegiate ranks, Finau spent five years (2015-19) at Orem (Utah) High School, including serving as the team’s co-defensive coordinator for four seasons as he helped lead the Tigers to four-consecutive state championships.
Finau played collegiately at Utah (2010-11) and appeared in 21 games for the Utes, including five starts. During his two years, he recorded 42 total tackles and helped Utah to a pair of bowl games. As a senior, he played in all 13 games with four starts and posted 37 tackles, which included 3.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss. Against Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl, he recorded a career-high 10 tackles.
Finau also spent three years at Phoenix College (2006-08), where he was named a National Junior College Athletic Association second-team All-American as a freshman in 2007 as he recorded 89 tackles, which included 7.0 sacks and 19.0 tackles for loss, in 10 games, to go along with three forced fumbles. As a sophomore in 2008, he was named the region’s co-Defensive Player of the Year and second-team all-conference as he posted 53 tackles, which included 11.0 tackles for loss, to go along with a forced fumble.
Originally from Hamilton, New Zealand, Finau was raised in Tonga and Hawaii, where he was a three-time first-team all-state honoree from 2002-04. He attended Lahaina High School as a freshman and sophomore, Maui HS as a junior and Kahuka HS as a senior, as he helped the Red Raiders to the 2004 Hawaii state championship.
Following his collegiate career, Finau spent five years (2012-16) in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets and Houston Texans.
Finau graduated from Utah in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He and his wife, Adrianne, have five children: Aila, Ahea, Aja, Alcie and Soloa.
TEVITA FINAU FILE
Coaching History
2023- Utah State – Defensive Line
2022 Utah – Defensive Administrative Assistant
2020-21 Utah – Defensive Graduate Assistant
2016-19 Orem (UT) HS – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line
2015 Orem (UT) HS – Defensive Line
Bowl Games (2)
Utah (2): 2023 Rose Bowl; 2022 Rose Bowl
Conference Championships (2)
Utah (2) – Pac-12: 2022, 2021
Playing Experience
2016 Houston Texans – Defensive Tackle
2012-16 New York Jets – Defensive Tackle
2012 Dallas Cowboys – Defensive Tackle
2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Defensive Tackle
2012 Philadelphia Eagles – Defensive Tackle
2012 Arizona Cardinals – Defensive Tackle
2010-11 Utah – Defensive Tackle
2006-08 Phoenix College – Defensive Tackle
Education
2012 Utah – Sociology (B.S.)
Family
Wife – Adrianne; Children – Aila, Ahea, Aja, Alcie, Soloa