Western New Mexico University Athletics

Tanuvasa comes from the University of Colorado's football staff for two years (2019-21), originally joining in quality control for recruiting on April 13, 2020. In February 2021, he shifted into quality control for defense.

Before Colorado, Tanuvasa coached the linebackers at Northern Arizona University for the 2019 season and was the linebackers coach at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah in 2018.

Starting his football career as a player at Mount San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), he also got his first coaching gig with the Mounties, spending nine seasons (2009-17) on the coaching staff, instructing the linebackers, leading the strength and conditioning, and was the Mounties’ co-defensive coordinator for five seasons.

During his time with the Mounties, they won several titles, including the Southern California Bowl (2009, 2011, 2014), the National Bowl (2010, 2012), the Golden State Bowl (2013, 2015, 2016), and the CCCAA California State Championship (2009, 2010, 2014).

He would be inducted into the 2020 Mt. SAC Hall of Fame as a coach for the school’s 2009 & 2010 football teams, which won 26 consecutive games, claiming the JC Gridwire National Championship in both seasons. 

Also while at Mt. SAC, at CCCAA Statewide Academic Convention, he developed, proposed, and operated G.R.A.S.P. (Grey & Redshirt Academic Support Program) for underserved student-athletes at the state’s community college level, which has since been adopted at several campuses across California.

As a player for Mt. SAC, Tanuvasa played one year at linebacker for the Mounties and earned All-Mission Conference honors for the 2003 season as a freshman, having 108 tackles, 17 for loss, including five sacks. 

He would then spend two seasons at San Jose State (2004-06) before concluding his career at New Mexico Highlands, as a senior linebacker in 2007, recording 97 tackles, 24 for losses including seven sacks.

Tanuvasa earned his A.A. degree in Sociology from Mt. SAC in 2005 and earned his bachelor’s degree in the same field in 2009 from New Mexico-Highlands; making the Dean’s List at NMHU.

He was born on Fort Lewis Military Base in Washington and later moved to Tacoma, Washington to attend Henry Foss High School. While attending Henry Foss, Tanuvasa was a two-time All-State linebacker, being named to three All-Area Honors teams, and was All-Conference all four years of high school. His hobbies include sports, grilling and spending time with family, watching movies, going to amusement parks, and traveling. 

He is married to Anetero Uiagalelei, and has three children, sons Manaia and Malaki, and daughter Maliah. He has a large extended family, as he is the youngest of 11 siblings; he had 45 nieces and nephews between himself and his wife’s brothers and sisters. His nicknames include Junior and June; his first name is Tamafaiga.