Weber State University Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Defensive Tackles
- Email:
- kiteafeaki@weber.edu
Kite Afeaki returns for his seventh season as an assistant coach at Weber State. Afeaki, a former WSU player, coaches the defensive line for the Wildcats. He came to Weber State in January 2014 in the first season with Jay Hill.
Afeaki has helped lead Weber State to three-straight Big Sky titles and four-straight trips to the FCS Playoffs, including the semifinals in 2019. Weber State has also finished in the top 10 in the nation each of the last three seasons.Â
Afeaki has helped coach the Wildcat defense, which has been one of the best in the country in the last few seasons. Weber State has led the Big Sky in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and interceptions in each of the last three seasons.Â
In 2019, WSU also led the league in sacks as the Wildcats finished the season 11-4 and ranked third in the nation, the highest ranking in WSU history. Afeaki coached Jonah Williams who was named the Big Sky Defensive MVP and earned first-team All-Big Sky honors.Â
During the 2018 season, the Wildcats led the conference in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense, allowing 122.8 yards per game. In 2017, Weber State led the Big Sky in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, interceptions, pass efficiency defense and red zone defense.
In 2018, Afeaki coached senior Filipe Sitake to All-America honors in 2018 and coached Sitake and Williams to first-team All-Big Sky honors.Â
Senior McKay Murphy earned first-team All-Big Sky honors and sophomore Jonah Williams earned second team all-conference honors in 2017.Â
In 2016, Afeaki helped lead Weber State to a 7-5 record, a third-place finish in the Big Sky Conference and WSU’s first trip to the FCS Playoffs in seven years. Weber State led the conference in passing defense in 2016. During the season the Wildcat defense led the Big Sky in passing defense. Afeaki also coached junior defensive tackle McKay Murphy to honorable mention All-Big Sky honors.
The Wildcats led the Big Sky in total defense in 2015 and finished the season 6-5 overall and 5-3 in Big Sky play, WSU’s first winning season in five years.
Afeaki came to Weber State after spending the 2013 season as the assistant director of football operations at the University of Wisconsin, working for coach Gary Andersen. At Wisconsin, Afeaki assisted with the day-to-day operations of the football team, including team schedules and travel and practice preparations. He also assisted with the recruiting process.
In 2012, Afeaki was an administrative assistant at Utah State where he assisted the Aggie defensive coaches. Prior to joining Utah State’s staff, he spent three years working for the state of Nevada.
Afeaki was a member of the Weber State football team in 2000 and 2001 under head coach Jerry Graybeal. He redshirted the 2000 season and saw action in nine games in 2001, recording 12 tackles and one forced fumble.
He then went on to play two seasons at the University of Utah in 2004 and 2005 playing for Urban Meyer and Kyle Whittingham. WSU head coach Jay Hill was also an assistant coach with the Utes. As a defensive lineman, Afeaki played in 22 games with the Utes and made seven career starts.
Afeaki (pronounced: kee-tay ah-fee-ah-kee) was born April 19, 1982, on the island of Tonga and played high school football at West High in Salt Lake City. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in criminology from the University of Utah in 2006.
He and his wife Uina have eight children, Finau, Henilieta, Seleti, Matamoana, Sela, Lataheanga, Levila and Leila.
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