Frank Maile begins his second season on Jake Dickert’s staff after being named the Cougars’ edges coach Jan. 6, 2023.
In his first season coaching the edges, Maile elevated WSU’s arguably strongest unit into one of national prominence. Under Maile’s tutelage, Brennan Jackson earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors after posting 57 tackles, 12.5 TFL’s and 8.5 sacks, which ranked fourth in the Pac-12 and 20th nationally. Against Colorado, Jackson became the first Cougar to record two fumble recoveries for touchdowns in a game in program history. Jackson’s bookend, Ron Stone, Jr., added 11 TFL’s and five sacks en route to All-Pac-12 honors. Maile mentored Jackson’s ascension into a fifth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams while Stone signed a free agent contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Prior to WSU, Maile (MY-lay) spent two seasons at Boise State where he served as the Broncos’ assistant head coach and defensive line coach. During the 2022 season, the Bronco defense led the way to a 10-4 overall record, including a victory over North Texas in the Frisco Bowl. The Broncos finished ninth in total defense, sixth in pass defense and 16th in scoring defense. Senior defensive tackles Scott Matlock and Devini Obichere led all defensive lineman with 6.5 tackles-for-loss while senior edge Demitri Washington had a team-best 4.5 sacks.
Under Maile’s guidance in 2021, seven different Bronco defensive linemen registered a sack, including 2021 All-Mountain West Second-Team honoree Scott Matlock who notched a team-leading seven sacks. Matlock also accounted for 8.5 tackles-for-loss, the most among all Bronco defenders, and his 41 tackles (29 solo) led all Boise State defensive linemen.
Prior to Boise State, Maile spent five years at his alma mater, Utah State. In 2020, he served as the Aggies’ co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. He was also the interim head coach for Utah State’s final three games of the season.
Maile began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at Utah State in 2009. He moved into a full-time role as the Aggies’ defensive line coach in 2011.
After a two-year stint (2014-15) at Vanderbilt as the defensive line coach, he returned to his alma mater as the Aggies’ assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach in 2016. He was the interim head coach in Utah State’s 2018 New Mexico Bowl victory over North Texas.
In 2019, he worked with tight ends. Four Aggies earned All-Mountain West honors on offense, including tight end Caleb Repp, an honorable mention selection. Repp signed an NFL contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
During the 2018 campaign, Maile helped coach a Utah State defense that led the country in turnovers forced (32), interceptions (22) and three-and-outs forced (5.69 per game). The Aggies also ranked third in the NCAA with six defensive touchdowns. The Aggies tied the school records for wins (11) and home wins (six). Utah State was nationally-ranked for six-straight weeks for the first time in school history and finished No. 22 in the final Associated Press poll.
The Aggies allowed 182.5 passing yards per game in 2017 to rank 19th nationally. Utah State forced 29 turnovers, sixth-most in the NCAA. The Aggies were tied for second nationally with 16 forced fumbles and were fourth with five defensive touchdowns.
Utah State yielded 176.5 passing yards per game in 2016 to rank 10th in the NCAA. Ricky Ali’ifua was All-Mountain West honorable mention before signing a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and playing for the Seattle Seahawks.
At Vanderbilt, Maile helped the Commodores rank in the top 35 nationally in nine defensive categories during the 2015 season.
From 2011-13, Maile coached five all-conference honorees in his role as the defensive line coach, including first-team selection Al Lapuaho. Utah State was 28-13 during that span, won a pair of bowl games (three appearances) and captured the 2012 Western Athletic Conference title.
In 2013, the Aggies’ defense led the Mountain West in scoring defense (17.1 points per game), rushing defense (106.7 yards per game) and total defense (330.9 yards per game). Utah State was in the top 15 nationally in all three categories.
The Utah State defense was ranked in the nation’s top 15 in five categories during the 2012 season, including leading the WAC in scoring defense (15.4 points per game) and total defense (322.1 yards per game). The Aggies also led the WAC in total defense (366.2 yards per game) in 2011.
A native of West City, Utah, Maile played at Utah State from 2004-07. He made 21 starts in 42 appearances and was a team captain as a senior in 2007.
Maile earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Utah State in 2007 and added a master’s in education in 2010.
He and his wife, Heather, have three sons, Maximus, Samson and Titan, and a daughter, Cecilia.
