Doug Elisaia - Director of Football Sports Performance - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Doug Elisaia

Title:
Director of Football Sports Performance

Doug Elisaia is in his first year as Director of Football Sports Performance for the Michigan Football program in 2026.

Elisaia, a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, joined the U-M staff following 21 seasons at Utah.

Elisaia began his tenure in Salt Lake City in 2005 as an assistant strength coach before being promoted to Director of Sports Performance in 2006. His tenure with the Utah program overlapped entirely with that of head coach Kyle Whittingham. Twelve (12) of the program's 14 All-American honors were awarded during that timeframe and Utah saw 56 players drafted from 2007-25 under Elisaia's direction.

Before directing the strength program for the Utes, Elisaia worked at Kentucky for three years (2002-04), working with the Wildcat football and baseball teams.

He previously spent time in Michigan at Division II Wayne State (2000-01) as defensive line coach and the team's strength and conditioning coach and worked at McPherson College (NAIA) in a similar capacity in 1998-99.

Elisaia played at Iowa Wesleyan (1991-95) as a defensive tackle and was a three-year team captain. He earned NAIA Academic All-American honors and graduated in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and a minor in athletic training and coaching.

Born in California, Elisaia was raised in Pago Pago, American Samoa, and was chosen as the American Samoa High School Athletics Association's Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a senior. He was also recognized by the government of American Samoa as the Outstanding Offensive Lineman of the Samoan Goodwill Games, held in Honolulu.

The Elisaia File
Hometown: Redwood City, California
High School: Leone
College: Iowa Wesleyan (physical education, 1996)
Family: Wife, Leata; daughters Safua, Seleisa, Colleen; son, Samu