Dec. 10, 2022, was an extremely difficult day for the Niumatalolo family.
As darkness descended on Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Ken Niumatalolo was informed that his tenure as Navy head football coach was over.
Niumatalolo enjoyed tremendous success during his 15 seasons at the helm and departed as Navy’s all-time winningest coach with a record of 109-83. He led the Midshipmen to 10 winning seasons and six Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy championships.
Navy had just lost to archrival Army, 20-17, in double overtime. Niumatalolo was inside the coaches locker room when then-athletic director Chet Gladchuk entered and delivered news of the dismissal.
Niumatalolo waited until returning to the team hotel to tell family members what had happened. It was particularly distressing for Va’a Niumatalolo, who was in his third season on the coaching staff.
Initially hired by his father in 2020, the younger Niumatalolo served as a defensive analyst and assistant director of football operations in 2022.
“It was devastating and upsetting for our family,” Va’a Niumatalolo told The Capital Gazette recently when asked to reflect on his father’s firing. “It was definitely a hard thing to deal with and I had a lot of conflicting feelings.”
Va’a Niumatalolo described himself as being “at a crossroads” as he was scheduled to drive back to Annapolis the next morning to depart on a flight to Hawaii to recruit. That was he same day that Navy athletics announced that Ken Niumatalolo would not be retained.
“I took a long look in the mirror and thought to myself: Either I can sit here and mope or I can go out and do my job to the best of my ability,” Va’a Niumatalolo said. “I realized that regardless of all that happened, I still believed in the Naval Academy and still believed in the Navy Football Brotherhood.”
So like the loyal assistant he was, Va’a Niumatalolo hit the road and enthusiastically recruited on behalf of Navy football. On Dec. 19, Navy announced that Brian Newberry had been promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach.
Va’a Niumatalolo had gotten good news a few days prior from Newberry himself.
“I was actually driving in Arizona when I got the call from Coach Newberry, who said: ‘If I get the job, I want you to know that I want you to stay.’ That was such an incredible relief. I almost cried in the car, but I didn’t. I was just super grateful that I was able to stay at a place that I love so much.”
In that moment, Va’a thought about the fact his father remained at the Naval Academy despite interviewing for head coaching jobs elsewhere, most notably at BYU in 2015.
“There’s a reason why my dad stayed so long even though he had opportunities to leave. I feel the same way because this place is different,” he said. “I’m fortunate to be able to do something I love at a place I love.”
Newberry ultimately hired Va’a Niumatalolo as assistant defensive line coach under Jerrick Hall, who now holds the title of defensive running game coordinator. Newberry said it really wasn’t that difficult a decision.
“By that time, I had already worked with Va’a for a couple years and knew he was an up and coming young coach with a good head for the game. I also knew he was a hard worker and very dedicated to Navy football,” Newberry said. “I knew Va’a could bring value to the program and that has proven to be the case. I think Va’a has a really bright future in this profession.”
Raised on Navy football
Va’a Niumatalolo literally grew up on Navy football. He was 9 years old when his father returned to Annapolis in 2002 to serve as assistant head coach under Paul Johnson.
Raised in Arnold, Va’a was a two-time, first team All-County linebacker at Broadneck High and earned a scholarship to Brigham Young University. He was a four-year member of the BYU football team and appeared in 19 games before graduating in 2018.
Barbara Niumatalolo always dreamed that her oldest child would become a doctor. Indeed, he was taking pre-med courses at BYU with the ultimate plan of becoming a radiologist.
However, that path hit a speed bump when various medical schools came to BYU to conduct presentations. Sitting in the auditorium listening, the younger Niumatalolo did not find himself suitably interested.
“I remember thinking that I am not passionate about this at all. The thought of investing another six to 10 years pursuing that goal was not appealing,” he said.
So Va’a switched his major to exercise and wellness and suddenly decided he wanted to follow in the family business by becoming a college football coach. “My mom and everyone else in my family tried to talk me out of it. Even my dad didn’t think it was a good idea,” Va’a said.
Va’a spent two years at the University of Hawaii, serving as an offensive intern in 2018 and as a graduate assistant working with the offensive line in 2019. Getting hired full-time at Navy and returning to Annapolis with his wife and young family was a dream come true.
Ken Niumatalolo being let go could have ruined the storybook ending, and most Navy football observers probably figured there was no way his son would remain an assistant. It was no doubt surprising to some that Va’a Niumatalolo was one of seven assistants from the previous staff retained by Newberry.
“Words cannot express my gratitude that Coach New kept Va’a,” Ken Niumatalolo told The Capital via text message this week. “I am so grateful that Va’a is able to learn from such an elite football coach and even better person.”
Ken Niumatalolo, now in his second year coaching San Jose State, also appreciates that his son is being groomed by two other coaches with whom he worked and has great respect for: Hall and Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker. He believes serving a two-year Mormon mission helped learn numerous practical and life skills that enhance his ability to be a teacher and coach.
“Being a coach for 36 years, I knew that my son had all the necessary skills and professional knowledge to succeed in this very grueling profession,” the elder Niumatalolo said. “Barbara and I are blessed to see the man Va’a has become: a loving husband and father to four wonderful children.”
Finding a niche
Va’a Niumatalolo remembers being summoned to Newberry’s office and asked if he would be willing to assist Hall with the defensive line. Newberry explained that it was a large position group and he wanted an extra set of eyes and hands working with so many players.
Niumatalolo enthusiastically accepted, excited about the chance to work with a coach of Hall’s caliber. Hall, who played defensive tackle at N.C. State for former Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green, has poured his accumulated knowledge into his assistant. He has taught Niumatalolo all the subtle differences between tackle, nose guard and end in terms of assignments and subtle techniques such as weight distribution, hand placement and footwork.
“Being a lifelong linebacker, I always had a great appreciation for the defensive line,” Niumatalolo said. “It’s been a lot of fun learning all the basic fundamentals of the defensive line positions. It’s been awesome having Coach Hall teach me all the fine tune things he’s picked up over the years.”
In the early days, Hall would work with the more seasoned defensive linemen on advanced techniques, while Niumatalolo would take the younger, less experienced members of the unit and focus on elementary fundamentals. However, three years in, Hall has complete confidence in his assistant to coach any defensive lineman about any aspect of their respective position.
“Three years ago, when we first started working together, I would be running the meeting and look back and see Va’a with a pad and a pen taking notes. He was like a sponge soaking up everything,” Hall said. “Va’a has gotten to the point now where when we do individual work, I give him the interior guys and take the ends or vice versa. We see things the same and I trust him implicitly. We tag team that thing together and it’s been great.”
In fact, Niumatalolo has become known for his high energy personality and bringing the juice to practice. He can be fiery and likes to chase behind the linemen during practice, exhorting them to run to the football.
“Coach Va’a definitely brings a lot of youthful energy and excitement. He’ll get after people for sure, but is also very encouraging,” Navy starting tackle Griffen Willis said. “He understands what we’re going through and is very easy to connect with. We trust Coach Va’a because we know he really cares about and loves us defensive linemen.”
Niumatalolo’s duties also include overseeing the offensive scout team. It’s his responsibility to make sure they are well versed in the upcoming opponent’s schemes and give the Navy front line defense a good look in practice.
While it initially disappointed his mother, Niumatalolo is glad he ditched the pursuit of a medical degree in favor of following in his father’s footsteps.
“Being able to coach football is enjoyable. I go out there on the practice field every day and have so much fun. I believe it’s important to make sure the players are having fun, too,” Niumatalolo said. “I’ve learned that happy, confident football players are tougher and execute better than sad, tired football players.”
Niumatalolo loves coaching at the Naval Academy so much he has a ritual to remind himself how fortunate he is. “I literally listen to the Top Gun theme song every day while driving over the Naval Academy Bridge to go to work,” he said.
Niumatalolo, whose recruiting territories are Arizona, Hawaii, Maryland and Utah, has gotten to the point he can even poke some fun at his father.
“I told my dad that I’m going to put that at the top of my resume in bold letters: I survived him getting fired,” Va’a said with a chuckle.
Survived, now thriving.
Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz.
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