Inoke Breckterfield joined Sean Lewis’ coaching staff on Feb. 12, 2024 as the Aztecs’ defensive line coach.
In 2023, Breckterfield helped lead Washington to a 14-1 overall record, CFP Finals appearance, and the final PAC12 Championship title. The Husky defense surrendered 24.8 points per game.
In Breckterfield’s first season in the pacific northwest, he helped coach a defensive unit that led the Huskies to an 11-2 overall record. Washington's rushing defense, which had been ranked 11th in the Pac-12 and 108th in the FBS just one year earlier, jumped to third in the conference and 25th in the nation in 2022. Additionally, the UW improved from 98th in the nation in team sacks, to 20th.
Prior to Washington, he spent one season at Vanderbilt following six seasons at Wisconsin where he also oversaw the defensive line.
With Breckterfield on staff, Wisconsin posted a 56-19 record and went to three New Year’s Six bowl games. Overall, the Badgers won five bowl games and three Big Ten West Division titles in his tenure. Statistically, in his tenure, the Badgers allowed an average of just 16.6 points and 107.7 rushing yards per game.
In 2020, Breckterfield directed a defensive line that limited opponents to 299.9 yards per game, fewest in the Big Ten, and 96.1 rushing yards per game, the second-lowest average in the conference. Wisconsin finished third in the Big Ten in scoring defense.
Breckterfield rebuilt the Badgers’ depth up front in 2019 around a talented trio of defensive ends in Isaiahh Loudermilk, Garrett Rand and former walk-on Matt Henningsen. That group combined with freshman nose tackle Keeanu Benton to rack up 17.0 tackles for loss and 10 of the Badgers’ school-record 51 sacks — the nation’s second-best total.
In his first year in Madison, Breckterfield helped the Badgers build the nation’s top defense, ranking No. 1 in scoring defense (13.7 points per game) and No. 2 in total defense (268.5 yards per game) in 2015. He developed a deep front line for the Badgers’ 3-4 defense, anchored by a trio of defensive ends (Alec James, Chikwe Obasih and Conor Sheehy) who became part of the winningest senior class in school history with a four-year record of 45-10.
James and Sheehy were second-team All-Big Ten selections as seniors in 2017, contributing to a unit that won a school-record 13 games while finishing the season ranked No. 2 nationally in total defense (262.1 yards), No. 3 in scoring defense (13.9 points), No. 3 in rushing defense (98.4 yards) and No. 1 in passing efficiency defense (96.4).
Obasih joined James and Sheehy to give Wisconsin a trio of All-Big Ten honorees at defensive end in 2016, when the three paired with nose tackle Olive Sagapolu to record 10.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
Breckterfield joined the staff at Wisconsin after one year of coaching the defensive line and two years overseeing the defensive tackles at Pittsburgh.
While at Pitt, Breckterfield coached eventual All-Pro Aaron Donald, a unanimous All-American in 2013 and a first-round NFL Draft pick in 2014. In 2013, Donald was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and won the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy.
Breckterfield arrived at Pittsburgh after coaching the defensive line at UCLA in 2011. The Bruins played in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl that season.
Prior to UCLA, Breckterfield coached the defensive line at Montana during the 2010 season. The Grizzlies led the Big Sky Conference and ranked 14th nationally in tackles for loss per game with 7.6, and stood second in the league and 18th nationally in sacks. The year prior to Breckterfield’s arrival, Montana ranked 103rd and 88th in those categories, respectively.
Breckterfield landed his first full-time coaching position as defensive line coach at Weber State in 2009.
He began his coaching career under Mike Riley, his former head coach, at Oregon State. After joining the Beavers as a volunteer assistant in 2006, Breckterfield went on to serve as a graduate assistant in 2007 and 2008, working with the defensive line.
The 2008 Beavers finished the season ranked No. 18 in the nation, with a 9-4 record, including a win over Pitt in the Sun Bowl.
A defensive end at Oregon State, Breckterfield finished his collegiate career as the Beavers’ career leader in tackles for loss (55.5) and sacks (19.5). As a senior in 1998, he was a third-team Associated Press All-American and won the Pac-10’s Morris Trophy Award as the top defensive lineman in the league, as voted on by the conference's offensive linemen. He was also named Oregon State’s Male Athlete of the Year, was a two-time team defensive MVP, and played in the Hula Bowl.
Following his Oregon State career, he played five seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts (1999-2000) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2001-03). In Breckterfield’s initial season with Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers advanced to the Grey Cup final after posting a franchise-best 14-4 mark and tying a CFL record with 12 straight wins.
Breckterfield earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Oregon State. He and his wife, Carol, have three sons: Kalevi and twins Rocky and Riley.
THE INOKE BRECKTERFIELD FILE
Position: Defensive Line Coach
Hometown: Kaneohe, Hawai'i
Education: Oregon State (1998)
Family: Inoke and his wife, Carol, have three sons: Kalevi and twins Rocky and Riley.
CAREER IN FOOTBALL
AS A COACH
2024-present: San Diego State (defensive line)
2022-23: Washington (defensive line)
2021: Vanderbilt (defensive line)
2015-20: Wisconsin (defensive line)
2013-14: Pittsburgh (defensive tackles)
2012: Pittsburgh (defensive line)
2011: UCLA (defensive line)
2010: Montana (defensive line)
2009: Weber State (defensive line)
2007-08: Oregon State (graduate assistant: defensive line)
2006: Oregon State (volunteer assistant)
AS A PLAYER
2001-03: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL)
1999-2000: Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
1995-98: Oregon State