The former three-time all-Mountain West linebacker Justin Ena has been named the new defensive line coach. The announcement was made by head coach Brady Hoke on Monday, according to GoAztecs.com.
The 44-year old, born in Provo, Utah, has 14 years of college coaching experience. He was a defensive coordinator for Dixie State in 2021, Utah State in 2019, Weber State in 2014 and Southern Utah in 2008-13.
Ena helped USU to the 2019 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl.
While being the special teams coordinator/linebackers coach at the University of Utah from 2015-18, he helped the Utes to a top-30 rush defense in all four seasons under him. While with Utah, he brought them to three bowl appearances.
Ena played at Brigham Young from 1998-01. At the collegiate level, he was a four-year starter as a linebacker and he would go on to play in the 2002 Senior Bowl.
In 2001, Ena graduated from Brigham Young with a degree in history.
Ena played four seasons in the NFL, coming out of the 2002 draft as an undrafted free agent. He played three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (2002-03, 2005) and one season with the Tennessee Titans (2004).
The Aztec defense had 86 quarterback hits, 41 sacks and 95 tackles for a loss last year.
Hoke will look towards Ena’s experience as a defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, safeties coach and being an NFL player to help improve those numbers.
