Eti Ena joins Head Coach Kriby Moore’s first staff in Pullman, serving as defensive tackles coach. Ena comes to Pullman after spending the previous two seasons coaching the defensive line at New Mexico State.
During the 2025 season, Ena mentored defensive tackle Ezra Christensen, who garnered multiple All-American honors following the season. After posting 42 total tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss and six sacks, Christensen earned First Team All-America honors by Pro Football and Sport Network, as well as third-team honors from HERO Sports Group of Five All-America teams.
Prior to arriving in Las Cruces, N.M., Ena served as the co-defensive coordinator/defensive tackles coach at the University of Hawai’i in 2023, and the defensive line coach in 2022.
Ena spent six seasons at Eastern Washington in numerous roles, including defensive ends coach, (2016-2021), associate head coach (2017-2021) and defensive coordinator (2019-2021). Ena helped guide the Eagles to the national title game in 2018 season and a semifinal appearance in 2016. In 2018, he coached an Eastern Washington defense that led the FCS with six defensive touchdowns and allowed just 22.7 ppg, the school’s lowest average in more than two decades.
Additionally, Ena mentored multiple EWU players who earned all-conference and All-America honors including Big Sky Conference Defensive MVP Jay-Tee Tiuli. During his time at EWU, he coached six NFL players, including 2016 FCS All-American Samson Ebukam who currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts, the San Francisco 49ers, and played significantly on the Los Angeles Rams team that made the 2018 Super Bowl.
Other stints by Ena include time at Cal Poly (defensive line, 2013-2015), Idaho (defensive line, 2009-2012) and Eastern Oregon (defensive coordinator/linebackers, 2006-2008). At Cal Poly, he coached Sullivan Grosz who was named the 2013 Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Sky Conference. In his first year at Idaho, the Vandals made just their second-ever postseason appearance, capturing the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl. There he also mentored Idaho defensive end Benson Mayowa who went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks.
In total, Ena has coached at the college ranks for 22 seasons, starting as a student assistant at Eastern Washington from 2003-2005.
Ena began his coaching career at Shelton High School (Wash.) as the co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach from 1997-1998.
A graduate of Eastern Washington, the Inchelium, Wash., native and his wife Latona, and have four children, Corey, Moia, Fuamai and Eti Jr.
Eti Ena Coaching History
2024-25: New Mexico State – Defensive Line
2022-23: Hawai’i – Defensive Line
2019-21: Eastern Washington – Defensive Coordinator
2017-21: Eastern Washington – Associate Head Coach
2016-21: Eastern Washington – Defensive Ends
2013-15: Cal Poly – Defensive Line
2009-12: Idaho – Defensive Line
2006-08: Eastern Oregon – Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers
2003-05: Eastern Washington – Student Assistant
1997-98: Shelton (Wash.) High School – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
