University of Nevada Athletics

Vai Taua, one of the most successful running backs in Wolf Pack history, enters his seventh season with the Wolf Pack football program, fifth on the coaching staff, and second in his current role of Assistant Head Coach and running backs coach. He spent his first two years (2017-18) with the program in an administrative role.

Taua was elevated to his current role by head coach Ken Wilson in Dec. 2021, and served as Nevada's interim head coach for the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit, Mich.

For the third time, Taua, in his role overseeing the Wolf Pack running backs, guided his younger brother Toa Taua to All-Mountain West recognition in 2022. Toa was named Honorable Mention after posting career-best totals of 911 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns, ranking tied for third and seventh, respectively, in the Mountain West statistical rankings.

Overall, Taua's running backs accounted for 17 of the Nevada offense's touchdowns in 2022, with 16 coming on the ground. In addition to Toa Taua's 12 scores (11 rush, one receiving), fellow fifth-year running back Devonte Lee added five touchdowns on the ground.

In 2020, Taua guided Wolf Pack running back Toa Taua to All-Mountain West recognition, as the latter was named to the Second Team after capturing the conference rushing title. Toa Taua finished the campaign with 675 rushing yards and four touchdowns while adding 31 catches for 214 yards and another score, also leading the Mountain West and ranking 29th in the country with 5.9 yards per carry.

Overall, Vai Taua's backfield contributed greatly to a Nevada offense which ranked 30th in the FBS with 441.4 total yards per game, and scored 30.8 points per game.
 
During his first season as an assistant coach, Vai Taua helped the reigning Mountain West Freshman of the Year, Toa Taua, to all-conference honorable mention honors. Under Vai Taua’s guidance, Toa Taua made his presence felt in the Mountain West once again. He rushed for 62.1 yards per game, which ranked in the top 10 in the league, and tied his career high of six rushing touchdowns. Vai Taua also helped Devonte Lee continue to be a force at the goal line, totaling a team-high seven rushing touchdowns, despite missing the first four games of the season.
 
Vai Taua had a stellar career with the Wolf Pack and was a member of the team that beat Boston College en route to a Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Championship. He also helped lead his team to one of the biggest upsets in school history when the Wolf Pack toppled No. 3 Boise State on Nov. 26, 2010. In that game, he rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown.
 
Vai Taua first came to Nevada in 2007 to begin his illustrious career. He would go on to become an All-American and a three-time All-WAC team member. He ended his career with 4,512 career rushing yards and 53 touchdowns, both ranking in the top five in program history. After college he signed as a free agent with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and then again with the Seattle Seahawks in 2011.
 
Prior to Nevada, he spent two years on the UCLA coaching staff and was the special teams coordinator and running backs coach at East Los Angeles Junior College.
 
Vai Taua has a son, Tamali’i.
 
The File on Vai Taua
Born: Oct. 11, 1988
Hometown: Lompoc, Calif.
Family: Son – Tamali’i
Education: Bachelor's, University of Nevada, 2010
 
Coaching Experience
2021-pres.: Assistant Head Coach/ Running Backs, Nevada 
2019-21: Running Backs, Nevada
2018: Asst. Director of Player Personnel and Recruiting, Nevada
2017: Special Teams Analyst, Nevada
2016: Special Teams/RBs, East Los Angeles College
2015: Defensive Line, UCLA
2014: Wide Receivers, UCLA
 
Playing Experience
Nevada: Running Back (2007-10)