Football
Breckterfield, Inoke
vs
Ohio State
Sep 27 (Sat)
12:30 p.m. PT
Inoke Breckterfield
- Title:
- Defensive Line Coach
Inoke Breckterfield joined coach Kalen DeBoer's coaching staffΒ in 2022 as the defensive line coach. He retuns for a second season in 2023.
In 2023, Breckterfield helped coach a defensive unit that led the Huskies to an 11-2 overall record. Washington's rushing defense, which had been ranked 11th in the Pac-12 and 108th in the FBS just one year earlier, to third in the conference and 25th in the nation in 2022.
Additionally, the UW improved from 98th in the nation in team sacks, to 20th.
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A third-team All-America defensive end at Oregon State (1995-98) who was twice named the Beavers' defensive MVP, and who won the Morris Trophy as the Pac-10's top defensive lineman in 1998, Breckterfield joined the UW staff from Vanderbilt, where he spent one season after six at Wisconsin. He has coached defensive line in the Pac-12, Big Ten, ACC and SEC during his career.
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A native of Kaneohe, Hawai'i, Breckterfield played five seasons in the Canadian Football League before embarking on his coaching career. After three seasons at Oregon State, he spent one season each as defensive line coach at Weber State, Montana and UCLA before coaching at Pittsburgh from 2012 through 2014.
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While at Pitt, Breckterfield coached eventual All-Pro Aaron Donald, a unanimous All-American in 2013 and a first-round NFL Draft pick in 2014. In 2013, Donald was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and won the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy.
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Before the 2015 season, Breckterfield took over as defensive line coach at Wisconsin. Over his six seasons there, Wisconsin was 56-19 and went to three New Year's Six bowl games. In 2019, the Badgers set a program record with 51 sacks, and in 2020, the Wisconsin defense led the Big Ten in rush defense and third-down defense. Over the six seasons Breckterfield spent in Madison, the Badgers allowed just 16.6 points and 107.7 rushing yards per game.
He joined Vanderbilt in January, 2021, as its defensive line coach, following six seasons at Wisconsin, where he also oversaw the defensive line.
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During Breckterfieldβs years with the Badgers, the program went a combined 56-19 and claimed three Big Ten West Division titles and five bowl game wins, with three appearances in New Yearβs Six bowls (Cotton, Orange, Rose).
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Defensively with Breckterfieldβs units applying the pressure, Wisconsin allowed an average of just 16.6 points and 107.7 rushing yards per game during his tenure.
Β
In 2020, Breckterfield directed a defensive line that limited opponents to 299.9 yards per game, fewest in the Big Ten, and 96.1 rushing yards per game, the second-lowest average in the conference. Wisconsin finished third in the Big Ten in scoring defense.
Β
Breckterfield rebuilt the Badgersβ depth up front in 2019 around a talented trio of defensive ends in Isaiahh Loudermilk, Garrett Rand and former walk-on Matt Henningsen. That group combined with freshman nose tackle Keeanu Benton to rack up 17.0 tackles for loss and 10 of the Badgersβ school-record 51 sacks β the nationβs second-best total.
Β
In his first year in Madison, Breckterfield helped the Badgers build the nationβs top defense, ranking No. 1 in scoring defense (13.7 points per game) and No. 2 in total defense (268.5 yards per game) in 2015. He developed a deep front line for the Badgersβ 3-4 defense, anchored by a trio of defensive ends (Alec James, Chikwe Obasih and Conor Sheehy) who became part of the winningest senior class in school history with a four-year record of 45-10.
Β
James and Sheehy were second-team All-Big Ten selections as seniors in 2017, contributing to a unit that won a school-record 13 games while finishing the season ranked No. 2 nationally in total defense (262.1 yards), No. 3 in scoring defense (13.9 points), No. 3 in rushing defense (98.4 yards) and No. 1 in passing efficiency defense (96.4).
Β
Obasih joined James and Sheehy to give Wisconsin a trio of All-Big Ten honorees at defensive end in 2016, when the three paired with nose tackle Olive Sagapolu to record 10.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
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Breckterfield joined the staff at Wisconsin after one year of coaching the defensive line and two years overseeing the defensive tackles at Pittsburgh.
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His most successful pupil was Donald, a first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft following a senior season that saw the consensus All-American sweep the nationβs top defensive honors by claiming the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award. Donald led the nation with 28.5 tackles for loss and ranked 11th in the country with 11.0 sacks as a senior.
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Breckterfield arrived at Pittsburgh after coaching the defensive line at UCLA in 2011. The Bruins played in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl that season.
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Prior to UCLA, Breckterfield coached the defensive line at Montana during the 2010 season. The Grizzlies led the Big Sky Conference and ranked 14th nationally in tackles for loss per game with 7.6, and stood second in the league and 18th nationally in sacks. The year prior to Breckterfieldβs arrival, Montana ranked 103rd and 88th in those categories, respectively.
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Breckterfield landed his first full-time coaching position as defensive line coach at Weber State in 2009.
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He began his coaching career under Mike Riley, his former head coach, at Oregon State. After joining the Beavers as a volunteer assistant in 2006, Breckterfield went on to serve as a graduate assistant in 2007 and 2008, working with the defensive line.
Β
The 2008 Beavers finished the season ranked No. 18 in the nation, with a 9-4 record, including a win over Pitt in the Sun Bowl.
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A defensive end at Oregon State, Breckterfield finished his collegiate career as the Beaversβ career leader in tackles for loss (55.5) and sacks (19.5). As a senior in 1998, he was a third-team Associated Press All-American and won the Pac-10βs Morris Trophy Award as the top defensive lineman in the league, as voted on by the conference's offensive linemen. He was also named Oregon Stateβs Male Athlete of the Year, was a two-time team defensive MVP, and played in the Hula Bowl.
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Following his Oregon State career, he played five seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts (1999-2000) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2001-03). In Breckterfieldβs initial season with Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers advanced to the Grey Cup final after posting a franchise-best 14-4 mark and tying a CFL record with 12 straight wins.
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Breckterfield earned a bachelorβs degree in liberal studies from Oregon State. He and his wife, Carol, have three sons: Kalevi and twins Rocky and Riley.
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COACHING HISTORY
Β
Washington
2022-23: Defensive Line
Β
Vanderbilt
2021: Defensive Line
Β
Wisconsin
2015-20: Defensive Line
Β
Pittsburgh
2013-14: Defensive Tackles
2012: Defensive Line
Β
UCLA
2011: Defensive Line
Β
Montana
2010: Defensive Line
Β
Weber State
2009: Defensive Line
Β
Oregon State
2007-08: Graduate Assistant (Defensive Line)
2006: Volunteer Assistant
Β
Β
In 2023, Breckterfield helped coach a defensive unit that led the Huskies to an 11-2 overall record. Washington's rushing defense, which had been ranked 11th in the Pac-12 and 108th in the FBS just one year earlier, to third in the conference and 25th in the nation in 2022.
Additionally, the UW improved from 98th in the nation in team sacks, to 20th.
Β
A third-team All-America defensive end at Oregon State (1995-98) who was twice named the Beavers' defensive MVP, and who won the Morris Trophy as the Pac-10's top defensive lineman in 1998, Breckterfield joined the UW staff from Vanderbilt, where he spent one season after six at Wisconsin. He has coached defensive line in the Pac-12, Big Ten, ACC and SEC during his career.
Β
A native of Kaneohe, Hawai'i, Breckterfield played five seasons in the Canadian Football League before embarking on his coaching career. After three seasons at Oregon State, he spent one season each as defensive line coach at Weber State, Montana and UCLA before coaching at Pittsburgh from 2012 through 2014.
Β
While at Pitt, Breckterfield coached eventual All-Pro Aaron Donald, a unanimous All-American in 2013 and a first-round NFL Draft pick in 2014. In 2013, Donald was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and won the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy.
Β
Before the 2015 season, Breckterfield took over as defensive line coach at Wisconsin. Over his six seasons there, Wisconsin was 56-19 and went to three New Year's Six bowl games. In 2019, the Badgers set a program record with 51 sacks, and in 2020, the Wisconsin defense led the Big Ten in rush defense and third-down defense. Over the six seasons Breckterfield spent in Madison, the Badgers allowed just 16.6 points and 107.7 rushing yards per game.
He joined Vanderbilt in January, 2021, as its defensive line coach, following six seasons at Wisconsin, where he also oversaw the defensive line.
Β
During Breckterfieldβs years with the Badgers, the program went a combined 56-19 and claimed three Big Ten West Division titles and five bowl game wins, with three appearances in New Yearβs Six bowls (Cotton, Orange, Rose).
Β
Defensively with Breckterfieldβs units applying the pressure, Wisconsin allowed an average of just 16.6 points and 107.7 rushing yards per game during his tenure.
Β
In 2020, Breckterfield directed a defensive line that limited opponents to 299.9 yards per game, fewest in the Big Ten, and 96.1 rushing yards per game, the second-lowest average in the conference. Wisconsin finished third in the Big Ten in scoring defense.
Β
Breckterfield rebuilt the Badgersβ depth up front in 2019 around a talented trio of defensive ends in Isaiahh Loudermilk, Garrett Rand and former walk-on Matt Henningsen. That group combined with freshman nose tackle Keeanu Benton to rack up 17.0 tackles for loss and 10 of the Badgersβ school-record 51 sacks β the nationβs second-best total.
Β
In his first year in Madison, Breckterfield helped the Badgers build the nationβs top defense, ranking No. 1 in scoring defense (13.7 points per game) and No. 2 in total defense (268.5 yards per game) in 2015. He developed a deep front line for the Badgersβ 3-4 defense, anchored by a trio of defensive ends (Alec James, Chikwe Obasih and Conor Sheehy) who became part of the winningest senior class in school history with a four-year record of 45-10.
Β
James and Sheehy were second-team All-Big Ten selections as seniors in 2017, contributing to a unit that won a school-record 13 games while finishing the season ranked No. 2 nationally in total defense (262.1 yards), No. 3 in scoring defense (13.9 points), No. 3 in rushing defense (98.4 yards) and No. 1 in passing efficiency defense (96.4).
Β
Obasih joined James and Sheehy to give Wisconsin a trio of All-Big Ten honorees at defensive end in 2016, when the three paired with nose tackle Olive Sagapolu to record 10.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
Β
Breckterfield joined the staff at Wisconsin after one year of coaching the defensive line and two years overseeing the defensive tackles at Pittsburgh.
Β
His most successful pupil was Donald, a first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft following a senior season that saw the consensus All-American sweep the nationβs top defensive honors by claiming the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award. Donald led the nation with 28.5 tackles for loss and ranked 11th in the country with 11.0 sacks as a senior.
Β
Breckterfield arrived at Pittsburgh after coaching the defensive line at UCLA in 2011. The Bruins played in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl that season.
Β
Prior to UCLA, Breckterfield coached the defensive line at Montana during the 2010 season. The Grizzlies led the Big Sky Conference and ranked 14th nationally in tackles for loss per game with 7.6, and stood second in the league and 18th nationally in sacks. The year prior to Breckterfieldβs arrival, Montana ranked 103rd and 88th in those categories, respectively.
Β
Breckterfield landed his first full-time coaching position as defensive line coach at Weber State in 2009.
Β
He began his coaching career under Mike Riley, his former head coach, at Oregon State. After joining the Beavers as a volunteer assistant in 2006, Breckterfield went on to serve as a graduate assistant in 2007 and 2008, working with the defensive line.
Β
The 2008 Beavers finished the season ranked No. 18 in the nation, with a 9-4 record, including a win over Pitt in the Sun Bowl.
Β
A defensive end at Oregon State, Breckterfield finished his collegiate career as the Beaversβ career leader in tackles for loss (55.5) and sacks (19.5). As a senior in 1998, he was a third-team Associated Press All-American and won the Pac-10βs Morris Trophy Award as the top defensive lineman in the league, as voted on by the conference's offensive linemen. He was also named Oregon Stateβs Male Athlete of the Year, was a two-time team defensive MVP, and played in the Hula Bowl.
Β
Following his Oregon State career, he played five seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts (1999-2000) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2001-03). In Breckterfieldβs initial season with Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers advanced to the Grey Cup final after posting a franchise-best 14-4 mark and tying a CFL record with 12 straight wins.
Β
Breckterfield earned a bachelorβs degree in liberal studies from Oregon State. He and his wife, Carol, have three sons: Kalevi and twins Rocky and Riley.
Β
COACHING HISTORY
Β
Washington
2022-23: Defensive Line
Β
Vanderbilt
2021: Defensive Line
Β
Wisconsin
2015-20: Defensive Line
Β
Pittsburgh
2013-14: Defensive Tackles
2012: Defensive Line
Β
UCLA
2011: Defensive Line
Β
Montana
2010: Defensive Line
Β
Weber State
2009: Defensive Line
Β
Oregon State
2007-08: Graduate Assistant (Defensive Line)
2006: Volunteer Assistant
Β
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