Football Announces Hiring of Ikaika Malloe

LOS ANGELES – UCLA head football coach Chip Kelly announced Wednesday the hiring of Ikaika Malloe (ee-KY-kuh mull-OY), who will serve as a defensive assistant coach for the Bruins. Malloe, a former standout defensive player at the University of Washington, guided his alma mater's defensive line from 2016-2020 before shifting to the outside linebackers in 2021. He also served as UW's co-defensive coordinator for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Malloe will work as an analyst for the Bruins through the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl. He joins the Bruins staff with 20 years of coaching experience, including three as a defensive coordinator and six as a special teams coordinator, under his belt.

"I've been very impressed to watch Ikaika as a coach and with 20 years of experience, he is a strong addition to our defensive staff," said Kelly. "While being a smart leader on the field, he'll also be a great mentor to our student-athletes in the classroom and off the field. I am thrilled to welcome him to the UCLA family."

This past season, Washington rated third in the Pac-12 in total defense (336.9 yards per game) and led the league in pass defense efficiency (106.7) while allowing the fewest passing yards of any team per game (143.3). Opponents scored just six touchdowns through the air against UW over the course of the 2021 season. The Huskies also boasted the Pac-12's stingiest third-down defense, allowing just a 35.7% conversion rate.

In 2020's four-game season, Malloe helped coach a d-line that played a big role in Washington finishing second in the Pac-12 in quarterback sacks, while also leading the conference in total defense and passing yards allowed.

The 2019 season was another strong one for the UW d-line, which helped limit opponents to just 19.4 points per game. Malloe helped mentor his latest first-team All-Pac-12 selection, as Levi Onwuzurike, now with the Detroit Lions, earned that honor in 2019.

The previous two years, Malloe coached the winner of the Pac-12's Morris Trophy, given to the top offensive and defensive lineman in the conference, as voted on by the conference's opposing linemen. Vita Vea, now in the NFL with Tampa Bay, won the award in 2017 and the Huskies repeated in 2018 as Greg Gaines took home the honor. Gaines, who is a member of the Los Angeles Rams, was also a first-team All-Pac-12 selection, while senior lineman Jaylen Johnson also earned honorable mention All-Conference.

The Huskies also led the Pac-12 in both scoring (15.5 points per game) and total (301.8 yards per game) defense in 2018, marking the third straight season for the Huskies to accomplish the feat under coach Malloe. The 2018 Huskies were also second in the Pac-12 in rushing and passing defense.

The 2017 Husky defense was anchored by Malloe's pupil, Vea, the Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Thanks largely to Vea and Gaines, then a second-team All-Pac-12 , the Huskies' line helped the defense rank fourth nationally allowing 100.8 yards per game and second overall allowing 2.86 yards per rush. Vea would go on to be the 12th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the second-straight draft that one of Malloe's players was selected.

In his first season at Washington, Malloe helped coach a UW defensive unit that once again topped all Pac-12 defenses as the Huskies went 12-2 and earned a trip to the 2016 College Football Playoff. Washington led the conference in both total defense (316.9 yards per game, 12th in the nation) and scoring defense (17.7 points per game, eighth) in the nation, while also leading all FBS schools in turnover margin (1.29 per game) and takeaways (33). Washington was first in the conference in first downs allowed and third down conversion defense, while finishing second in red zone defense, rushing defense and sacks.

On the defensive line, Elijah Qualls earned first-team All-Pac-12 (as well as second-team All-America from FOX Sports), while Vea was a second-teamer and Gaines earned honorable mention.

Malloe joined the Husky staff after having spent two seasons guiding the defensive line at Utah State. In 2014, he helped the Aggies to a 10-4 overall record (second-most wins in school history) and a third straight bowl trip, a win over UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl. Three defensive linemen earned All-Mountain West honors (a first-teamer, a second-team and an honorable mention) in 2014. Two Aggies d-linemen picked up All-MWC honorable mention.

The 2014 Aggie team featured a rugged defense that finished in the top 30 in the nation in 10 categories, including best in the MWC and No 12 in the nation in scoring defense at 19.7 points per game. USU also led the conference in rushing defense, sacks and tackles for loss.

Malloe went to Utah State after two seasons at Portland State, where he worked under former Husky teammate Nigel Burton as the Vikings' special teams coordinator and defensive tackles coach. In 2013, he coached a unit that held seven opponents under 100 rushing yards and posted 91 tackles for loss and 27 sacks while two players earned honorable mention All-Big Sky. In 2013, the Vikings also boasted All-America punter Kyle Loomis and led the FCS in net punting. PSU also blocked seven punts or kicks and was second in the nation in kickoff coverage. The 2012 PSU team held five Big Sky opponents to 86 rush yards or less and three of Malloe's players earned honorable mention All-Conference.

From 2009-2011, Malloe spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Yale, where he worked for former UW assistant coach Tom Williams. In 2008, he was special teams coordinator and defensive tackles coach at Hawai'i, helping guide the Warriors to a berth in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. From 2004-07, he was d-line coach at Texas-El Paso, which made it to the 2005 GMAC Bowl.

Prior to UTEP, Malloe began his full-time coaching career as special teams coordinator and d-line coach at Western Illinois. The Leathernecks won the Gateway Conference title in 2002 and made the NCAA Division I-AA playoff quarterfinals twice.

Malloe began his career as a student assistant, program coordinator and, eventually, a graduate assistant, at Washington. He earned his degree in sociology from the UW in 1997.

A graduate of Kamehameha School in Hawai'i, Malloe came to the UW from his home in Waimanalo and went on to earn four varsity letters as a safety and outside linebacker. He started 11 games in 1995, when the Huskies won a share of the Pac-10 championship. Malloe led the UW in interceptions that season, with five.

In 1993, he won the Bob Jarvis Most Inspirational Walk-On Award after having won the Brian Stapp Defensive Scout of the Year Award in 1992.

Malloe and his wife, Tara, have two daughters, Taylor and Sloane, and two sons, Jordan and Isaiah.

MALLOE'S COACHING CAREER