San Jose State announces hiring of six new football assistants to coaching staff

After a disappointing 2025 season, San Jose State head coach Ken Niumatalolo made a number of coaching staff changes official on Thursday, including promoting ex-Oakland Raiders linebacker Bojay Filimoeatu to defensive coordinator.

Filimoeeatu took over as the Spartans’ interim defensive coordinator for the final two games of the 2025 season following the firing of longtime defensive coordinator Derrick Odum after a 55-10 loss to Nevada on Nov. 17.

Filimoeatu, who played parts of two seasons as a backup for the Raiders in 2014-15, spent the last two seasons as San Jose’s inside linebackers coach and run game coordinator.

San Jose State, which finished 11th in the 12-school Mountain West Conference after going 3-9 overall and 2-6 in conference play, made five other coaching staff additions on Thursday.

Ex-UCLA and TCU assistant Brian Norwood was named defense pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach, Joe Dale is the new safeties coach, Ramsen Golpashin, who played under Chip Kelly at Oregon, is the offensive line coach, Fred Guidici is specials teams analyst and Kolney Cassel was promoted from offensive analyst to tight ends coach.