Al Lapuaho joined the San José State coaching staff in 2024 after two years coaching the defensive line at Nevada.
Last season, Lapuaho oversaw a group that featured defensive tackle Dom Peterson, who was named to the All-Mountain West Second Team. Peterson led the Pack defense in sacks (6.0) and tackles-for-loss (13.0), in addition to fumble recoveries, with his three sharing the Mountain West lead.
Peterson led a defensive line which also featured Dion Washington, James Hansen, and Thomas Witte, among others, which played a key role in the Wolf Pack ranking 43rd nationally and fourth in the Mountain West in tackles-for-loss (6.3 per game). The quartet of Peterson, Washington, Hansen, and Witte combined for 25.0 of the Pack's 76 on the season. the unit also made five of the Pack's eight fumble recoveries, a figure that ranked second in the Mountain West.
In 2021, Lapuaho (pronounced Lah-poo-ah-ho) was a full-time assistant for the first time in his career, helping Utah State win the MW title while going 11-3 and finishing No. 24 in the final AP Top 25. The Aggies ranked sixth in the nation in tackles for loss per game (7.9) and 60th in sacks per game (2.29). Utah State allowed 161.9 rushing yards per game, 84th in the country.
During his two seasons working with the Aggies' defensive line, Lapuaho helped Utah State play in consecutive bowl games. He also mentored three Aggies who earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors in Adewale Adeoye, Fua Leilua and Christopher 'Unga.
Lapuaho spent the last four seasons on Utah State's staff, including two as a defensive graduate assistant (2018-19) and one as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant (2020) before being elevated to defensive line coach last season. He also served as a defensive graduate assistant at Oregon State from 2016-17. Prior to joining the staff at Oregon State, Lapuaho worked as an account/capacity manager for England Logistics.
During the 2018 season at Utah State, Lapuaho helped the Aggies to a school-record-tying 11 victories and a 52-13 win against North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl. USU finished the season with an 11-2 record, including a 7-1 mark in the Mountain West, and was ranked 22nd in the final Associated Press poll. That season, USU set 36 school records and tied six others.
Lapuaho came to Utah State after spending the 2016 and 2017 seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Oregon State, where he worked specifically with the defensive line. Prior to joining the staff at Oregon State, Lapuaho worked as an account/capacity manager for England Logistics.
The native of West Valley City, Utah, earned first-team all-conference honors at Snow College before making his way to Utah State, where he spent his junior and senior seasons in 2011 and 2012.
During his two seasons at Utah State, Lapuaho helped Utah State snap a 14-year bowl drought as the team played in consecutive bowl games for just the second time in school history. USU also won the 2012 WAC title, its first outright league championship since 1936, as it finished the year with a school-record 11 wins after posting a 41-15 victory against Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. USU concluded the 2012 season ranked 16th in the final Associated Press poll, 17th in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll and 22nd in the final BCS standings.
After graduating from Utah State with an interdisciplinary studies degree emphasizing in psychology and physical education, Lapuaho signed an NFL free agent contract with the St. Louis Rams. During the 2013 NFL campaign, he spent time on the practice squad for both the Rams and Miami Dolphins. Lapuaho then joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014 and was on their preseason roster. He also played one season for the Colorado Crush of the Indoor Football League.