San José State University has announced several changes to its football coaching staff, including the promotion of Bojay Filimoeatu to Defensive Coordinator. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo detailed the new appointments, which also include Brian Norwood as Defensive Pass Game Coordinator and Cornerbacks Coach, Joe Dale as Safeties Coach, Ramsen Golpashin as Offensive Line Coach, and Fred Guidici as Special Teams Analyst. Kolney Cassel has been promoted to Tight Ends Coach.
“Bojay is a rising star in coaching,” said Niumatalolo. “Tutored by many coaches, such as Jay Hill and Brady Hoke, Bojay brings a wide variety of defensive schemes and philosophies to our program. An elite teacher, recruiter, and developer of young men. Brian brings 36 years of college coaching to our staff and is a former defensive coordinator who is one of the best secondary coaches in the country. Joe provides coordinator experience and knowledge to our program. Ramsen brings a ‘power four’ and NFL background to our offensive line. Fred is a veteran special teams coach who knows and loves SJSU. Kolney played for and coached with offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann; he knows our offense as well as anyone.”
Filimoeatu steps into his new role after serving as interim defensive coordinator for the final two games of the 2025 season. He returned to San José State in 2024 as inside linebackers coach and run game coordinator. Under his guidance, linebacker Jordan Pollard recorded 108 tackles in both 2024 and 2025 seasons, earning First Team All-Mountain West honors each year. In his last game as interim coordinator against Fresno State, Pollard made 19 tackles and scored on a 58-yard interception return.
Brian Norwood joins San José State after working at TCU as Assistant Coach – Safeties starting in March 2025. Previously, he spent five seasons at UCLA where he helped develop one of the top defenses nationally; eight defensive backs earned All-Pac-12 honors under his leadership, with UCLA ranking tenth nationally in total defense in 2023 by allowing just over 301 yards per game.
Norwood’s previous roles include co-defensive coordinator positions at Navy (2019), Kansas State (2018), where he improved pass defense rankings significantly within one season, and Tulsa (2015–17). His career also features work at Baylor, Penn State, Texas Tech, Richmond, Arizona, and an earlier stint at Navy.
Joe Dale arrives from Weber State after eight years on staff there—most recently serving as defensive coordinator—and was part of four Big Sky title-winning teams that reached FCS semifinals during his tenure.
Ramsen Golpashin comes from UCLA where he was senior defensive analyst but brings NFL experience from two seasons with the Green Bay Packers’ offensive staff; during that time the Packers ranked among league leaders in fewest sacks allowed.
Fred Guidici returns to San José State having previously served nine seasons with the program—including three years as Special Teams Analyst—and most recently worked at Stanford developing players like Joshua Karty who became an NFL draft pick.
Kolney Cassel moves up from Offensive Analyst—a position he held since January 2025—to Tight Ends Coach. Cassel’s background includes playing quarterback at SMU under June Jones before finishing his collegiate career at Hawai‘i; he began coaching immediately after graduating.
Zach Artman has also been promoted within the Spartans’ program from intern to offensive analyst since joining in 2023.
