Salave’a hired to coach on defense
The Miami Hurricanes have announced the hiring of Miami’s defensive line coach — another assistant coming East from Oregon.
That man is Joe Salave’a, 46, a longtime NFL player who spent the past five seasons at Oregon as the defensive line coach, as well as the co-defensive coordinator, run-game coordinator and associate head coach.
At UM, he will also serve as defensive associate head coach and run-game coordinator.
“The University of Miami is committed to physicality and controlling the line of scrimmage,” coach Mario Cristobal said in a statement. “Coach Salave’a’s eight years in the trenches of the NFL and his college coaching experience are the driving forces behind an elite recruiter, coach and developer of the talent. Coach Salave’a is a tremendous leader of men, and I know that mental and physical toughness will be traits of the Miami Hurricanes defensive line. He will make his impact felt in the culture and identity of our program.”
After their bowl game, the Ducks were ranked
53rd of 130 FBS teams in rushing defense in 2021, allowing 144.1 ground yards a game. Oregon was ranked 104th with 20 sacks for a 1.64 average a game and 90th in total sacks with 23. The Ducks were 110th in tackles for loss (4.5 a game).
Salave’a coached and developed nationally touted defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, who finished 2021 with 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, eight quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles along with 49 total tackles.
Salave’a replaces UM line coach Jess Simpson, the former Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach who did an admirable job replacing NFL-bound defensive end Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche. In 2021, Miami was ranked 44th in rushing defense (139 yards allowed a game).
“What an honor,” Salave’a said in a statement. “I’m blessed to have the opportunity to continue to work for Coach Cristobal. The opportunity here is tremendous. I want to get to work – I want to get to know our guys in the building and connect with them, start putting together the pieces and really start this entire process.”
Salave’a coached from 2012-16 at Washington State, in 2011 at Arizona and in 2008-09 at San Jose State.
Salave’a is a member of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame and an eightyear NFL veteran who played five years with the Tennessee Titans, split 2002 with the Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers and ended with three years with the thenWashington Redskins.
Susan Miller Degnan: 305-376-3366, @smillerdegnan