Steve Fifita enters his seventh year as the defensive line coach at Idaho State. Fifita brings a wealth of experience having played collegiately at Utah and professionally for the Frankfurt Galaxy, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.

In 2014, Fifita coached two all-conference lineman. Tyler Kuder earned second-team all-league while Austin Graves was named third-team all-league.

Fifita coached a defensive line in 2018 that boasted two all-conference players in Treven Aloi and Kainoa Fuiava. In 2017, JonRhyeem Peoples earned honorable mention all-conference and received invites to NFL rookie camps. 

Fifita, who was raised in Orange County, Calif., played collegiately at the University of Utah from 2001-2005. After redshirting in 2001, Fifita played in 11 games in 2002 and started all 12 games at nose guard in 2003, earning honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference accolades with 31 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and a career-high six tackles vs. Texas A&M. As a junior in 2004 he started all 12 games and earned first-team All-Mountain West with 45 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 23 solo tackles and the most by any Utah linemen that year. Utah participated in the Fiesta Bowl in 2004 where he had five tackles and a 12-yard sack in a game where he earned Defensive MVP honors in a 35-7 win over Pittsburgh.

As a senior in 2005, Fifita once again earned All-Mountain West Conference honors with 44 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and six sacks.

Born and raised in Huntington Beach, Ca.  He and his wife, Heidi have three daughters, Makyla, Nia, and Malia.