[BAYLOR FOOTBALL] Inoke Breckterfield to Lead Baylor’s Defensive Line

Thu Mar 7 08:01:38 CST 2024

BAYLOR ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS – March 7, 2024

Inoke Breckterfield to Lead Baylor’s Defensive Line
Veteran Spent 2022-23 Seasons Leading Washington’s Defensive Line

For more information contact: Brent Ingram; 210-845-8651, brent_ingram at baylor.edu<mailto:brent_ingram at baylor.edu> or Max Calderone; 254-265-1639, max_calderone at baylor.edu<mailto:max_calderone at baylor.edu> or Colin Pirtle; 940-564-0351, colin_pirtle1 at baylor.edu<mailto:colin_pirtle1 at baylor.edu>

WACO, Texas -- Veteran defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield has been tabbed to lead Baylor’s defensive line, it was announced by Coach Dave Aranda on Thursday.

One of the nation’s most accomplished defensive line coaches, Breckterfield joins the Baylor staff after working to lead Washington to the national championship game in 2023 and an 11-2 mark in 2022. He spent the 2021 season as the defensive line coach at Vanderbilt.

A native of Kaneohe, Hawaii, Breckterfield served as Aranda’s defensive line coach during the 2015 season at Wisconsin, Aranda’s last year leading the Badger defense, which led the nation in scoring defense and ranked second in total defense. Breckterfield spent six seasons (2015-20) at Wisconsin.

“Inoke is one of the best defensive line coaches in the country and we are thrilled to bring him to Waco to lead our group,” Aranda said. “It didn’t take long when we were together in 2015 to recognize the elite defensive mind that Inoke owns and to see just how skilled he is at coaching the defensive line. He has a real ability to connect and relate to student-athletes and consistently brings the best out of his players. He will step in immediately and be a driving force in our defensive efforts and will be a great presence in our building.”

He has also gained experience coaching defensive lineman at Pittsburgh (2012-14), and as the defensive line coach at UCLA (2011), Montana (2010) and Weber State (2009). He started his career at Oregon State, his alma mater – where he was an All-American and a two-time team defensive MVP – as a graduate assistant (2007-08), following a season as a volunteer assistant (2006). As a player at OSU (1995-98), he was named the Pac-10’s top defensive lineman in 1998 and went on to play six years in the Canadian Football League.

“I am thrilled to be at Baylor and honored to have the opportunity to coach this group of young men,” Breckterfield said. “The time that Dave and I spent together in Madison was key and I always knew I’d love the opportunity to re-unite with him down the line. This is a great time to be at Baylor and my family is blessed to be in Waco. We’re excited to get to work.”

He has coached some of the top defensive players in the game, including mentoring eventual NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald as his position coach at Pitt.

In 2023, Breckterfield led the defensive line on a league-champion UW team that went 14-1, advancing to the College Football Playoff National Championship, with 14 straight wins. =

During the 2022 season, UW went 11-2 and a year after having a rushing defense that ranked 108th in the nation, moved up to No. 25. The Huskies went from No. 98 in the nation in sacks in 2021, before Breckterfield’s arrival, to No. 20.

In his two seasons at UW, Breckterfield helped the Huskies to a 25-3 record, including a 14-0 mark at home.

Breckterfield ventured to Seattle after spending the 2021 season at Vanderbilt, leading the defensive line for the Commodores.

The swing through Nashville followed six seasons in Madison, Wis., leading the defensive line for the Badgers. Aranda hired Breckterfield for his final season at UW in 2015 and the two helped guide the nation’s top defensive unit, ranking No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense and No. 2 in total defense.

During his time at Wisconsin, the Badgers went 56-19, won five bowl games, claimed three B1G West Division Titles and played in three New Year’s Six bowl games (Cotton, Orange, Rose). Over the course of his time in Madison, UW allowed only 16.6 points and 107.7 rushing yards per game.

In 2020, UW led the Big Ten in rush and third-down defense. The Badgers limited opponents to just 299.9 yards per game, the best in the B1G, and 96.1 rushing yards per game, second-best in the league, finishing third in the conference in scoring defense.

In 2019, the Badgers charted a program-record 51 sacks, which was formed on the strength of a trio of elite defensive ends, including Isaiah 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 UW’s 51 sacks, which ranked second in the nation.

The 2019 season came after the Badgers went 8-5 in 2018, including a route of Miami (Fla.) in the Pinstripe Bowl.

The 2017 UW defense helped the Badgers to a school-record 13 wins, finishing No. 2 in the nation in total defense (262.1 yards), No. 3 in scoring defense (13.9 points), No. 3 in rushing defense (98.4) and No. 1 in passing-efficiency defense (96.4). The defensive line saw Alec James and Conor Sheehy earned All-Big Ten honors at defensive end.

Chikwe Obasih helped anchor the defensive line in 2016, joined by James and Sheehy, with the trio each earning all-league accolades. The three paired with nose tackle Olive Sagapolu to recorded 10.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

In 2015, Breckterfield and Aranda helped the Badgers build the nation’s 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. The defensive line, led by James, Obasih and Sheehy went on to become the winningest senior class in UW history with a 45-10 mark.

Breckterfield joined the staff at Wisconsin after one year of coaching the defensive line and two years overseeing the defensive tackles at Pittsburgh.

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 nation’s 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.

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 Hunger Bowl that season.

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 Breckterfield’s arrival, Montana ranked 103rd and 88th in those categories, respectively.

Breckterfield earned his first full-time coaching position as defensive line coach at Weber State in 2009.

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.

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.

A defensive end at Oregon State, Breckterfield finished his collegiate career as the Beavers’ 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-10’s 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 State’s Male Athlete of the Year, was a two-time team defensive MVP, and played in the Hula Bowl.

Following his Oregon State career, he played five seasons in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts (1999-2000) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2001-03). In Breckterfield’s 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.

Breckterfield earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Oregon State in 1998. He and his wife, Carol, have three sons, Kalevi and twins Rocky and Riley.

Breckterfield File

2024: Assistant Coach/Defensive Line – Baylor

2022-23: Assistant Coach/Defensive Line – Washington

2021: Assistant Coach/Defensive Line – Vanderbilt

2015-20: Assistant Coach/Defensive Line – Wisconsin

2013-14: Assistant Coach/Defensive Tackles – Pittsburgh

2012: Assistant Coach/Defensive Line – Pittsburgh

2011: Assistant Coach/Defensive Line – UCLA

2010: Assistant Coach/Defensive Line – Montana

2009: Assistant Coach/Defensive Line – Weber State

2007-08: Graduate Assistant Coach/Defensive Line – Oregon State

2006: Volunteer Assistant Coach – Oregon State

- BaylorBears.com -

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Brent Ingram | Assistant AD for Communications
Men’s Tennis Sport Program Administrator
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 210-845-8651

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