Manako Tuifua joined the Lane College coaching staff in February of 2022, focusing on the defensive line. Prior to Lane, Tuifua coached three seasons at Angelo State while helping the Rams to one of the top defenses in all of Division II. In the 2021 season, the Rams advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA DII National Championship. ASU was ranked eighth in total defense and sixth in rushing defense, allowing only 76.9 yards per game on the ground.
Under Coach Tuifua, G’Karri McCoy was named to the Super Four All-Region team while McCoy, Weston Bauer, and Tre'Darius Colbert were also named All-Conference for the Lone Star Conference.
In the 2020 Tuifua helped the Rams finish 2-2. Splitting games with West Texas, lost to Stephen F Austin, and finished the season on a high note by defeating division 1 Abilene Christian 34-21. 2019 during his first season, the Rams finished the season at 8-3, improving from a 6-6 record the year before. ASU ranked third in the LSC in both total defense and rushing yards allowed.
Prior to Angelo State, Tuifua help Azusa Pacific’s win 4 conference championships within six seasons. Tuifua worked with the Cougars’ defensive line, which spearheaded a 2016 defensive unit which ranked as Division II’s sixth-best scoring defense, surrendering just 16 points per game. The Cougars also ranked third nationally in sacks (4.17 per game) and turnover margin while advancing to the program’s first Division II playoff appearance. Tuifua coached GNAC defensive lineman of the year Ma’ake Muti and multiple all conference players.
Tuifua is a proud alumnus of Azusa Pacific University. He started all 11 games during his 2012 senior season. He was also the 2012 GNAC Defensive Lineman of the Year with the Cougars’ first season of Division II competition. He also appeared in all 10 games of the 2011 campaign. A native of Hawai‘i, Tuifua attended Kailua High School and played his first two seasons of college football at Pasadena City College
