Football
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Tosh Lupoi is in fourth season at the Capstone after joining head coach Nick Saban's staff in 2015 as the outside linebackers coach. He added the title of co-defensive coordinator prior to the 2016 season and was promoted to defensive coordinator in February of 2018. He served as an analyst for the Crimson Tide during the 2014 season after spending the previous six years at California and Washington.
Lupoi had to replace a bevy of outside linebackers in 2017 and then had to overcome a rash of injuries. Anfernee Jennings and Jamey Mosley stepped to the forefront as starters on the outside while linebackers Rashaan Evans, Dylan Moses and Mack Wilson spent some time on the outside in passing situations. Jennings led the outside linebackers with 41 tackles and six tackles for loss. Terrell Lewis and Christian Miller made it back for the final three games of the season after suffering injuries in the opener against Florida State, providing a boost late in the season. Lewis added a key overtime sack in the come-from-behind win over Georgia in the CFP National Championship Game.
The 2017 defensive unit once again led the nation in scoring defense (11.9 ppg) and rushing defense (94.7 ypg). The Tide also ranked second nationally in total defense (260.4 ypg) and pass efficiency defense. Alabama allowed 10 points or fewer in nine of its 14 games with two shutouts and forced 24 turnovers.
In 2016, Lupoi helped coordinate a defense that led the nation in scoring (13.0 ppg) and rushing defense (63.9 ypg), while ranking second in total defense (261.8 ypg) and ninth in pass efficiency defense (106.47). The group also added a nation's best 11 defensive touchdowns.
Lupoi's unit returned several experienced veterans at outside linebacker in that 2016 campaign, including seniors Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson, and they turned in fantastic final seasons, combining for 35.0 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and 22 quarterback hurries. Anderson earned First Team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and Williams was a Second Team All-American by the same outlet. Anderson finished with 61 total tackles, an interception return for a touchdown in the Peach Bowl and 10 hurries to go along with nine sacks and a team-best 19 tackles for loss, which tied for the fifth most in school history. Williams had 16 tackles for loss while finishing with nine sacks. Miller added 16 tackles and two sacks while Jennings contributed 19 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss and Lewis, then a true freshman, pitched in with 11 stops and a sack.
In Lupoi's first year with the outside linebackers in 2015, the Crimson Tide recorded the most sacks during the Saban era with 53, which ranked third nationally and was the second most in school history. The outside linebackers notched 22.5 by themselves, led by Williams' 10.5. Denzel Devall and Dillon Lee started at the jack and sam linebacker spots with Williams, Anderson and Evans coming off the bench to provide a spark. Â
Lupoi had previous experience in the 3-4 defense as an assistant coach at California and Washington, where he was responsible for coaching the defensive line as well as one of the outside linebacker positions.
He was a defensive analyst during the 2014 season for the Crimson Tide. Prior to that role, he served as the defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator at Washington in 2012 and 2013. The Huskies ranked fourth in the country in sacks per game (3.15) in 2013 while ranking among the top four in the Pac-12 both years in scoring defense.
Two of the players he coached at UW during that time earned All-America honors that season in outside linebacker Hau'oli Kikaha and defensive lineman Danny Shelton. Kikaha led the country with 19 sacks in 2013 while Shelton was tops among all interior defensive lineman with nine sacks on the season. Shelton would go on to be the 12th overall selection in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
Lupoi was the defensive line coach at California for four years, becoming the youngest full-time coach in Cal history when he joined the staff at the age of 26 in 2008. The Golden Bears led the Pac-12 in total defense in 2011, allowing just 332.9 yards per game. They were third in sacks that year with 34 and gave up the fewest first downs per game (17.4) and fewest passing yards per game (204.2). California also led the conference in defense and ranked among the top 25 nationally in per-game averages for sacks, total defense and pass defense.
The Rivals Recruiter of the Year in 2010, Lupoi helped sign California classes that ranked No. 11 nationally in 2011 and No. 14 in 2010. He developed multiple NFL draft picks during his tenure at Cal, including future first-round selections Cameron Jordan and Tyson Alualu.
As a player, Lupoi was a defensive lineman for Cal from 2000-05. He led the Bears' defensive line in tackles in 2003 and earned Pac-10 All-Academic recognition in 2005. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in American studies in 2005 and completed coursework toward a master's in education.
Lupoi played high school football at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., one of the most successful programs in the history of prep football, where he earned all-state honors and won a national title. His father, John Lupoi, played collegiate football at Brigham Young and was later a part-time assistant coach at California. He is married to the former Jordan Pelluer.
