Ike Eguae - Football Coach - University of North Texas Athletics

Ike Eguae

Title:
Assistant Coach, Defensive Tackles
Email:
UNTFootball@unt.edu
Alma Mater:
Pittsburg State, 2007

Ike Eguae was hired as the defensive tackles coach in December of 2024.

Eguae joined the staff after spending the 2024 season coaching interior defensive lineman at Sam Houston under defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity.

In his one year with the Bearkats, Egaue helped the defense finish 22nd in the FBS in total defense, tied for 11th in fumble recoveries and seventh in total forced turnovers. The defensive line unit helped Sam Houston rank second in Conference USA in both sacks and rushing defense.

Eguae helped the Bearkats finish the year 10-3 and earn the first bowl victory in program history with a 31-26 win over Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl.

Prior to his time at Sam Houston, Eguae spent the 2022 season coaching defensive line at Stephen F. Austin.

In his lone year at SFA he helped land a pair of Lumberjacks on the STATS Perform FCS All-America squads, including defensive end BJ Thompson to the third team and interior lineman Edward Bobino to the All-Freshman squad. Each landed on the all-WAC squad in a year which saw SFA place a league-high 16 players on the team and qualify for the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2013 before going on to sign the No. 6 signing class in the FCS that spring.

Before his time at SFA, Eguae spent eight seasons at Fort Hays State in Kansas from 2014-21 where he coached four All-Americans and 13 All-MIAA selections.

In his time at FHSU, the Tigers posted a 56-21 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in both 2017 and 2018 while also earned a bowl bid in 2016 and 2017. The 2016 team claimed the program's first-ever postseason game win, knocking off Eastern New Mexico 45-12 in the Heart of Texas Bowl.

From 2016-2018, Eguae coached at least one player who earned All-America honors in three consecutive years in Wyatt Parker (2018), Nathan Shepherd (2016 & 2017) and Sie Doe Jr. (2016).

An All-MIAA First Team selection, Parker highlighted the 2018 defensive line and received All-America Honorable Mention status from the Don Hansen Football Committee and was an All-Super Region 3 Second Team selection by the same organization. Parker finished a strong four-year career on the field for FHSU with 187 tackles, 10 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Three of Fort Hays State's defensive linemen on the 2018 squad received All-MIAA status with Malik Young (second team) and Sterling Swopes (third team) joining Parker. In 2019, Javaris Sanders (second team) and Sheldon Schmidt (honorable mention) received All-MIAA honors.

Shepherd was one of most dominant defensive linemen in the nation in 2017, giving FHSU the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. Shepherd earned All-America honors from three organizations and tied as the top vote receiver from NCAA Division II for the Cliff Harris Award, given to the nation's top small college defensive player. He finished his career at FHSU with 168 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. Shepherd went on participate in the Reese's Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine before getting selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Shepherd became the first player from FHSU since 1987 to be selected in the NFL Draft.

Shepherd earned All-America honors from one organization, finishing the year with 61 tackles and three sacks on the interior of the defensive line. He earned Mineral Water Bowl Defensive Player of the Game honors in Fort Hays State's first postseason game appearance in 20 years.

Doe shined for the Tigers in 2016, earning both D2CCA Super Region 3 and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors at defensive end. Doe was an All-America First Team selection by three organizations, while being named to five All-America teams overall. He produced a new school record 15 sacks for the season to go along with 81 tackles and 19.5 tackles for loss. Doe tied the school record for sacks in a career, producing 21.5 in his two years with the Tigers.

Eguae joined Fort Hays Pittsburg State University, where he spent three seasons (2011-2013) as an assistant coach working with the defensive line. A Pittsburg State graduate, Eguae also served as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater in 2007 and 2008.

Prior to that, Eguae was an assistant coach for two years at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, where he served as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the state of Texas and the Wichita (Kan.) area. He also served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for Coffeyville.

Eguae enjoyed a successful four-year career as a defensive lineman (2003-06). He saw action in 33 career games for the Gorillas, including 14 games in 2004 helping Pittsburg State to a 14-1 record and NCAA Division II National Runner-Up finish.

A native of Arlington, Texas, Eguae earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Pittsburg State in May 2007 and then completed his master's degree in 2014.

Coaching History
2007-08: Pittsburg State, graduate assistant
2009-10: Coffeyville CC, defensive line
2011-13: Pittsburg State, defensive line
2014-21: Fort Hays State, defensive line
2022: Stephen F. Austin, defensive line
2023-24: Sam Houston, defensive line