Fresno State Orienteering Coach Saga Tuitele hired by ASU

While Fresno State gears up for the LA Bowl, the NCAA coaching carousel is already spinning and has reportedly claimed a member of the Bulldogs staff. According to several reports, Fresno State offensive line coach and run game coordinator Saga Tuitele is headed to Arizona State as the Sun Devils’ O-Line coach.

Tuitele spent one season at Fresno State. He was the final hire made by Jeff Tedford for his 2022 on-field staff. Tuitele came to the Bulldogs from two years at Army – And before that, four years at New Mexico and seven years at Cal Poly.

Statistically under Tuitele, Fresno State dipped in sacks allowed, going from 25 in 2021 to 35 in 2022. The Bulldogs also decreased from 137.2 rushing yards per game in 2021 to 125.2 in 2022. He also navigated the season-ending injury of starting senior tackle Dontae Bull. Overall, Fresno State had 65 less yards per game and three less points per game than last year’s offense led by former head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. But the Bulldogs’ efforts resulted in a Mountain West Championship in 2022 while the 2021 team failed to win the West Division.

Down the final stretch of the season, the O-Line allowed a season-high seven sacks to San Diego State, held Hawaii and UNLV to one sack apiece, then gave up three sacks in each of the last three games.

– Could another Fresno State assistant be poached by a Power-5 school? Latest intel on the BarkBoard VIP Board HERE –

Tuitele joins the initial Arizona Staff under new head coach Kenny Dillingham. Former Eastern Washington head coach, Cal offensive coordinator and Cal Poly head coach Beau Baldwin will serve as the Sun Devil’s offensive coordinator.

The Bulldogs will have a reunion with Tuitele soon. Fresno State travels to Arizona State in Week 3 of the 2023 season. The two teams last faced in 2018 – a 31-20 victory by Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl. It was the first meeting between the two programs since 1941.

Comments are closed.