Keith Uperesa was named associate head coach this offseason and enters his second year as offensive line coach for the Colonels.
Uperesa came to Nicholls after serving as an offensive line coach at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas from 2005-09. While at UNLV, he coached six all-conference players, including Joe Hawley, who was selected in the 4th round in the 2010 draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
Prior to his stint with the Runnin’ Rebels, Uperesa served as an offensive line/tight end coach at Utah in 2004, helping guide the Utes to a historical season. Along with winning the Mountain West Championship, Utah finished undefeated at 12-0 after defeating Pittsburg, 35-7, in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. The Utes were the first school from a non-BCS conference to not only play in a BCS bowl game, but to win one as well.
While at Utah, Uperesa coached three all-conference offensive lineman, including first-team selection Chris Kemoetau (Pittsburg Steelers), second-team selection Jesse Boone and honorable mention Makai Aalona. He also worked with current NFL quarterback Alex Smith and worked under two-time national champion head coach Urban Myer.
Prior to joining Utah, Uperesa spent a year at El Camino Community College, guiding the squad to the Verizon Southern California Bowl Championship.
From 2001-02, he was an offensive line/tight end coach for the University of Southern California, helping the Trojans become 2003 Orange Bowl Champions. Also while at USC, Uperesa coached first-team all-conference Jacob Rogers in the offensive trenches, and was a member of the staff that led USC to the 2001 Las Vegas Bowl.
Uperesa served as an assistant head coach at the Idaho State University from 1999-2000, calling plays as the offensive coordinator. Idaho finished both seasons in the Top-12 nationally in passing with the highest coming in 1999 with a No. 9 ranking (308.1 yards/game).
The Honolulu, Hawaii native has also spent time as a head coach on the collegiate level, guiding Snow College to a 35-8 record from 1995-1999, four consecutive bowl victories and four consecutive top ten rankings. Uperesa started out as the offensive line coach / special teams coordinator in 1987, and steadily worked his way up to being named head coach in 1995.
Uperesa played three seasons in the NFL, one with the Oakland Raiders (1978) and two with the Denver Broncos (1979-80). After his NFL stint, Uperesa returned to BYU, where he played from 1974-77, to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Uperesa and his wife, Kaipo, have three children named Ikaika (31), Naupaka (29) and Kahikole (22). Ikaika, who played football at Idaho State, has two children named Isabella (8) and Sophia (2). Naupaka played collegiate women’s basketball at Norfolk State and Cal-State Dominguez Hills.
Keith and his wife, Kaipo, reside in Thibodaux.
