Prior to taking the head coaching job at San José State University (SJSU) in January 2024, Ken Niumatalolo did not have any direct personal or coaching connections to the school itself, having spent the vast majority of his career at Navy (20 consecutive seasons).
However, his arrival was bridged by several indirect professional, geographic, and administrative ties:
• The UCLA Transition: After being let go by Navy following the 2022 season, Niumatalolo moved to the West Coast to join the UCLA Bruins coaching staff for the 2023 season. He served as the Director of Leadership and was briefly elevated to Tight Ends Coach.
His time in California allowed him to learn the modern landscape of the transfer portal and NIL, positioning him for a return to a West Coast head coaching role.
• The Nick Saban Domino Effect: Niumatalolo's path to San José was entirely catalyzed by former Alabama coach Nick Saban's retirement.
Saban's exit caused a massive coaching carousel: Kalen DeBoer left Washington for Alabama, Jedd Fisch left Arizona for Washington, and SJSU head coach Brent Brennan left the Spartans to take the Arizona job, creating the sudden vacancy that Niumatalolo filled.
• Mountain West & Hawaii Familiarity: As a native of Laie, Hawaii, and a former quarterback and assistant coach for the University of Hawaiʻi, Niumatalolo was deeply familiar with the Mountain West Conference footprint.
Additionally, during his time at Navy, he frequently crossed paths with Mountain West teams, including coaching against Hawaii. This deep tie to the Polynesian football community heavily influenced his coaching network and subsequent staff hires at SJSU. 
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What is even worse is that Brent Brennan bailed on his own school, and now even New Mexico Lobos are better than us.
So much for dissin' Coach Clappuly and the Loobs.
And all we get is half a stadium and another old Coach past his prime.
Well, alllllrighty then!
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Gets you fired from ANY company. Why not SJS?
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