Kennedy Polamalu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from Kennedy Pola)
Jump to: navigation, search
Kennedy Polamalu
Sport(s) Football
Current position
Title Running Backs Coach
Conference Pac-12
Biographical details
Born (1963-11-22) November 22, 1963 (age 50)
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Playing career
1982–1985 USC
Position(s) Fullback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
San Diego State (RB/ST)
Colorado (RB)
San Diego State (LB)
Cleveland Browns (assistant)
Jacksonville Jaguars (RB)

Kennedy Polamalu (formerly Kennedy Pola, born November 22, 1963) is an American football coach and former player. He is the running backs coach for the UCLA Bruins.[1] Prior to that he was the offensive coordinator for the USC Trojans.

College career[edit]

Polamalu was a fullback at USC from 1982 to 1985. His contributions helped the USC Trojans defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes, 20–17, in the 1985 Rose Bowl.[2]

Coaching career[edit]

Polamalu coached running backs and special teams for the USC Trojans from 2000 to 2003.[3] He coached Justin Fargas, Hershel Dennis and Tom Malone. Prior to that he coached at the high school level and for UCLA, San Diego State University and the University of Colorado. He coached the Cleveland Browns in 2004 and the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2005 to 2009.[3] On July 24, 2010, Polamalu accepted a position with USC to become the offensive coordinator. The hiring led Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher to publicly criticize USC head coach, Lane Kiffin, for not following generally accepted NFL protocol: that the head coach or athletic department of the interested team should call the other head coach and let them know that they will be contacting an assistant on their staff. Fisher was upset that Kiffin called and left a voicemail after Polamalu had already accepted the job. Kiffin then explained that he called Polamalu on Friday, July 23, to gauge his interest; after getting Polamalu's positive answer on Saturday, Kiffin called Fisher and left a message.[4] On 26 July 2010, the Titans filed a lawsuit against Kiffin and USC for "maliciously luring" Pola away, asking for damages.[5] On December 4, 2013, it was announced that Polamalu was hired to be the running backs coach at UCLA[6]


His nephew is Troy Polamalu, star safety of the Pittsburgh Steelers.[3] Polamalu is married to Diane Griffin and has three children K.C., Matthew, and Tre'. He was born the day President Kennedy was assassinated, and was named in his honor. He graduated from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California in 1982 where he also played football and was Student Class President his Senior Year.

Polamalu's brother, Aoatoa Polamalu, played nose tackle at Penn State from 1984-1988.[7]

Upon moving to California from American Samoa in the mid-1970s, Kennedy's family shortened their last name to Pola. In 2011, he began the process of legally changing it back to Polamalu while preparing for a return to Samoa. In June,[8] he was part of a contingent that included former USC players Rey Maualuga, Deuce Lutui, Malaefou MacKenzie and others who returned to Samoa for a football camp sponsored by his nephew, former USC Trojans All-American and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.[8]

His name change became official in August 2011.


External links[edit]