Manako Tuifua is entering his fifth season on Azusa Pacific’s coaching staff in 2017 after wrapping up his playing career in 2012 as the GNAC Defensive Lineman of the Year in the Cougars’ first season of Division II competition.
Tuifua works with the Cougars’ defensive line, which spearheaded a 2016 defensive unit which ranked as Division II’s sixth-best scoring defense, surrendering just 16 points per game. The Cougars also ranked third nationally in sacks (4.17 per game) and turnover margin while advancing to the program’s first Division II playoff appearance.
Tuifua started all 11 games during his 2012 senior season, registering 42 tackles including 3.0 tackles for loss on the interior of the defensive line. He also appeared in all 10 games of the 2011 campaign, notching 32 tackles with 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
A native of Hawai‘i, Tuifua attended Kailua High School and played his first two seasons of college football at Pasadena City College.
Tuifua majored in sociology at Azusa Pacific, graduating in 2013. He and his wife Rhea Ann were married in 2015.
