Mike Fanoga is entering his second year as Defensive Coordinator/Linebacker Coach at Edward Waters University. He comes with over 35 years of coaching experience with the majority of his time coaching on the collegiate level. After just one season with the Tigers his defense has helped with the 2023 season ending record of 6-4 and Linebacker, Widmyer Garcon earning the 2024 First Team All-SIAC Football Selections.
Prior to EWU, Fanoga has coached at University of Texas El-Paso, West Alabama, Iowa Wesleyan College, Valdosta State University, Kentucky, Western Kentucky, New Mexico State University, Wyoming, Lane College, Benedict College, Virginia Union University, Morgan State University, Missouri Southern University, MTI, Wai’anae High School, and Major League Football.
He has coached in different positions from defensive coordinator, linebackers and defensive line coach. A few highlights of his coaching over the years include his time at Wyoming from 2009-2011. He coached linebacker Weston Johnson who went on to sign a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. Johnson recorded 106 tackles his senior season, and led the team in tackles for losses (13.0) and interceptions (three). In total, he has coached ten NFL players and two CFL players.
At New Mexico State, Fanoga was associate head coach and defensive line coach under head coach Hal Mumme. He helped coach an Aggie defense that ranked No.1 in the Western Athletic Conference and No. 3 in the nation in pass defense in 2008.
While coaching under head coach Hal Mumme at University of Kentucky, Valdosta State University and Iowa Wesleyan he was a part of the staff that helped guide the UK Wildcats to back-to-back bowl appearances in 1998 and ‘99.
In between his stops at Kentucky and New Mexico State he coached the defensive line at Western Kentucky for five seasons. Over that span of time between 2000-2004 the Hilltoppers earned their way into the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs each of those five seasons, and captured the 2002 National Championship with a 12-3 record. In 2002, the Hilltopper defense ranked No. 11 in the nation in scoring defense (allowing only 16.4 points per game to opponents), were No. 23 in total defense (279.2 yards per game) and were No. 27 in rushing defense (118.9 yards per game).
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, on two different occasions Fanoga participated in the National Football League (NFL) Fellowship program. He served fellowships with the Miami Dolphins in 1998 and Philadelphia Eagles in 2002.
Fanoga, born in American Samoa and later raised in California is a former linebacker who initially played at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah and transferred to UTEP, where he earned varsity letters and a bachelor’s degree in social work.
Fanoga and his wife, Soana, have one daughter, Sydney and son-in-law, Chase.
