Shaun Nua - Football Coach - University of Michigan Athletics

Shaun Nua

Title:
Defensive Line Coach

Shaun Nua is in his third season as defensive line coach at Michigan. Hired on January 17, 2019, Nua came to Ann Arbor after spending the 2018 season as defensive line coach at Arizona State.

Nua has coached three players to All-Big Ten recognition, led by Kwity Paye (second team twice) and Carlo Kemp (third team, honorable mention). Aidan Hutchinson was a second- and third-team selection in 2019.

In his first year, Nua led a unit that helped U-M rank top-25 nationally in eight categories, including sacks (2.77 per game, 21st). Over an eight-game stretch (32 quarters), Michigan allowed only one run of 20-plus yards. Seven teams were held under 100 yards rushing on the season. Defensive linemen combined for 23 tackles for loss, led by a team-high 12.5 from Paye, and 15.5 sacks.

In 2020, defensive linemen accounted for 13.5 of the team's 24 tackles for loss, including 6.5 of nine sacks during a six-game schedule. Paye (12 solo tackles. 4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks) stuffed the stat sheet in an injury-shortened four-game slate. Kemp matched his career-high in sacks (two) while nearing highs in tackles for loss (three) and solo stops (11).

During his only season with the Sun Devils, Nua helped the program post a 7-6 record and reach the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl during Herm Edwards’ first season at the helm. Nua mentored Renell Wren who gained honorable mention All-Pac 12 honors after posting 43 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks from his interior defensive line position. Wren was drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Nua spent six seasons coaching the defensive line at the U.S. Naval Academy (2012-17) prior to his time in Tempe. The Midshipmen compiled a 52-27 (.658) record during his tenure and earned a bowl berth each season, winning four of those postseason games. The Naval Academy beat rival Army four times and won three Commander-In-Chief’s Trophies.

The Midshipmen joined the American Athletic Conference in 2015 after being an Independent for 134 years and proceeded to put together a historic first season. Navy won a school-record 11 games, finished 18th in both national polls and shared the AAC West Division Title with Houston. A year later, the academy played Temple in the AAC Championship game after posting a 9-5 record and 7-1 mark in league play.

Individually, Nua mentored defensive end Will Anthony, who earned first-team All-AAC and first-team All-East honors in 2015, after posting 61 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, which ranked fourth in the AAC.

Nua began his coaching career at BYU. He was an intern with the program in 2009 and became a graduate assistant coach during the 2010-11 seasons. During his final two years in Provo, Nua helped the Cougars rank in the top 25 defensively, listing 24th in total defense in 2010 and 13th in 2011. BYU won its bowl games during both seasons and finished the 2011 campaign ranked No. 25 in the final USA Today Coaches poll after posting a 10-3 record.

Nua played defensive end at BYU from 2002-04, earning second-team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a senior. He appeared in 23 games, playing in 12 contests as a junior and 11 games as a senior. Nua recorded 54 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 10 sacks during his final two seasons. He graduated from BYU in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in youth and family recreation and later earned his master’s degree in recreation management in 2013.

After finishing at BYU, Nua was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played four seasons in the NFL, including three with the Steelers, and spent his final year with the Buffalo Bills. He was a member of the Steelers’ Super Bowl XL winning team in 2006.

A native of Pago Pago, American Samoa, Nua transferred to BYU from Eastern Arizona Junior College, where he earned Junior College All-American honors. He prepped at Tafuna High School in Tafuna, American Samoa.

THE NUA FILE
Hometown: Pago Pago, American Samoa
High School: Tafuna
College: BYU (2005)
Wife: Hilary
Children: Losi, Kelina and Malia

Year	Team	Position
2009	BYU	Intern (Defense)
2010-11	BYU	Graduate Assistant (Defense)
2012-17	U.S. Naval Academy	Defensive Line
2018	Arizona State	Defensive Line