Kennedy Polamalu
Seattle Seahawks | |
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Position: | Running backs coach |
Personal information | |
Born: | Pago Pago, American Samoa | November 22, 1963
Career information | |
High school: | Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) |
College: | USC |
Undrafted: | 1986 |
Career history | |
As a coach: | |
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Kennedy Polamalu (born November 22, 1963) is an American football coach and former player who is the running backs coach for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). Formerly, he served as the running backs coach for the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, and Las Vegas Raiders. He was the offensive coordinator for the UCLA Bruins. Prior to that he was the offensive coordinator for the USC Trojans.[1]
College career
Polamalu was a
Coaching career
Early coaching career
Polamalu coached running backs and
In July 2013, Polamalu decided to coach his son at Loyola High School in Los Angeles. He coached the running backs and was the Specials Team Coordinator. He only coached there for a year until he got an offer to coach at UCLA.
UCLA
On January 13, 2016, UCLA announced that it has promoted Polamalu to offensive coordinator.[7] Following the loss to California on November 26, 2016, Polamalu's contract at UCLA was not renewed.
Minnesota Vikings
In January 2017, the Minnesota Vikings officially announced the hiring of Polamalu as the team's running back coach.[8] He, along with the rest of the coaching staff was let go after the 2021 season.
Las Vegas Raiders
In 2022 he became the running backs coach for the Raiders. [9]On February 2 Polamalu was not retained by new Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce and the Raiders after they hired DeShaun Foster as the Raiders' new running backs coach. Foster later backed out to become the head coach of the UCLA Bruins and Polamalu was replaced by Cadillac Williams
Seattle Seahawks
In February 2024, Polamalu joined head coach Mike Macdonald as running backs coach for the Seahawks.[10]
Personal life
Polamalu is married to Stephanie Nelson and they share six children K.C., Matthew, Tre, Sophia, Andrew, and Xander. They also has a daughter-in-law Theresa Pola and two grandsons, Tre and Koa. He was born the day President Kennedy was assassinated, and was named in his honor. He graduated from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, in 1982 where he also played basketball and ran track and field and was Student Body President his senior year.
Polamalu's brother, Aoatoa, played
Upon moving to California from American Samoa in the mid-1970s, Kennedy's family shortened their last name to Pola. In 2011, he began the process of legally changing it back to Polamalu while preparing for a return to Samoa. In June,[12] he was part of a contingent that included former USC players Rey Maualuga, Deuce Lutui, Malaefou MacKenzie and others who returned to Samoa for a football camp sponsored by his nephew, former USC Trojans All-American and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.[12] His name change became official in August 2011.
References
- ^ Klein, Gary (February 8, 2013). "Kennedy Polamalu reportedly out as USC running backs coach". Los Angeles Times.
- Pasadena Tournament of Roses
- ^ a b "Kennedy Pola coach bio". Jaguars.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
- ^ Kiffin's approach 'disappoints' Fisher, ESPN.com, July 24, 2010, Accessed July 25, 2010.
- ^ "Titans sue USC, Kiffin for taking assistant coach Pola". CBS Sports. July 26, 2010. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013.
- ^ Sondheimer, Eric (December 4, 2013). "Football: Kennedy Polamalu is headed to UCLA". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Football Staff Hires and Promotion". UCLA Athletics. January 13, 2016. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ^ "5 Things to Know About New Vikings RB Coach Kennedy Polamalu". Minnesota Vikings. January 21, 2017. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017.
- ^ Aspuria, Ray (February 23, 2022). "New Raiders RB coach lands in solid spot". Silver And Black Pride. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ "Seahawks are expected to hire Kennedy Polamalu as RBs coach". NBC Sports. February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ "Football Opens Against Penn State In Kickoff Classic XVIII". USC Sports Information. August 21, 2000. Archived from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
- ^ a b "Football: Kennedy Pola goes home, changes his name", Pedro Moura, ESPN, June 30, 2011