After a highly successful 2024 debut season under Ken Niumatalolo that saw the program win seven games, knock off both Oregon State and Stanford, as well as reach a bowl, San Jose State dipped to a three-win 2025 season and now has made significant changes to its coaching staff for 2026.

Bojay Filimoeatu has been announced by the Spartans as the program’s new defensive coordinator, climbing from his initial role two years ago working with the linebackers and earning the post full-time after being San Jose State’s interim defensive coordinator for the final two games of the 2025 season.

He’s also coached at San Diego State, UNLV, Utah State and Weber State, among other stops before returning to San Jose State in this second stint; Filimoeatu played linebacker at Utah State.

There are two newcomers to the San Jose State defensive staff that were announced by the school: Brian Norwood is the defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach while Joe Dale has been added as the safeties coach.

On the offensive side of the ball, Ramsen Golpashin is the new line coach, Kolney Cassel is elevated to tight ends coach and Fred Guidici is the new special teams analyst.

“Bojay is a rising star in coaching,” Niumatalolo, the former Navy head coach and one victory from his 120th win as an NCAA head coach, said in the school’s release. “Tutored by many coaches, such as Jay Hill and Brady Hoke, Bojay brings a wide variety of defensive schemes and philosophies to our program. An elite teacher, recruiter, and developer of young men. 

“Brian brings 36 years of college coaching to our staff and is a former defensive coordinator who is one of the best secondary coaches in the country. Joe provides coordinator experience and knowledge to our program. Ramsen brings a ‘Power Four’ and NFL background to our offensive line. Fred is a veteran special teams coach who knows and loves SJSU. Kolney played for and coached with offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann; he knows our offense as well as anyone.”

Indeed, Golpashin — a former Oregon offensive lineman who crossed paths with Niumatalolo at UCLA a few years ago — has been on staff with the Green Bay Packers, in addition to work at UCLA, his alma mater Oregon and Hawaii. 

Entering Year 3 under Niumatalolo, San Jose State is scheduled to open its 2026 season in a cross-country tilt at Eastern Michigan on Sept. 5. The Spartans then get a three-game homestand to close out September, with consecutive games against Cal Poly, rival Fresno State and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.Â