Former colleagues, players and journalists comment on Ken Niumatalolo.
“The one person Niumatalolo never credits is Niumatalolo. Whenever Navy loses, the first words out of his mouth are directed at himself and at the opponent. ‘I didn’t have us ready to play today.’ Or, ‘We got outcoached, and that’s why we got outplayed.’ But the truth is, as much as the players deserve credit for all of Navy’s accomplishments, there are two men who made this happen: Paul Johnson and Niumatalolo. Bringing (Paul) Johnson back to Navy after the disastrous end to the Charlie Weatherbie era — the Mids were 0-10 in 2001 — was one of the two smartest decisions that Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk has made since he arrived in Annapolis that fall. … Niumatalolo is the boy next door, the kid you hope your daughter brings home because he will tell you what an honor it is to meet you and will have her home by 11 unless you think that’s too late. …When Niumatalolo was an assistant coach, practice would often stop because the offensive line coach wasn’t happy with his players and you could hear the screaming all the way to the Bay Bridge. He is every bit as intense now as a head coach.”
— Washington Post columnist John Feinstein
“Wins or losses, it’s been consistent: ‘Hey, go to work. When Monday rolls around, let’s get our workout in and get ready for the next one. That’s definitely been good leadership to see that, to not get complacent but not also freak out with the losses. That even keel, it’s definitely been positive.”
— Navy linebacker Brye French on the leadership of Niumatalolo, who helped the Midshipmen bounce back from a 1-3 start in 2012 to an 8-4 record.
“As a coach that’s really all you can ask for, to win a football game and give a lot of young guys experience. And then, not have to play Navy against until next year.”
— Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly after his team rallied to beat Navy in 2014, on facing a Ken Niumatalolo-coached team.
“What Ken Niumatalolo’s done in Annapolis is historic, and he’s succeeded since Day One. I covered Niumatalolo’s first game for CBS after the coach took over for Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson: the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl against Utah. The Utes survived a raucous, rain-drenched rally in Qualcomm Stadium, 35-32. Many of the same Utah players in action that night and head coach Kyle Whittingham were integral to the Utes’ undefeated run the following season. Whittingham and Utah ended the 2008 season with a two-touchdown rout of Saban’s Alabama team, which failed to test the Utes in the Sugar Bowl as much as Navy had in the previous year’s Poinsettia Bowl. Truthfully, it’s easy to overlook Niumatalolo’s remarkable success. Though Navy routinely wins eight or more games and has bowled six of his seven years at the helm, so much of college football’s focus is put on the power programs loaded with NFL talent. Niumatalolo has produced NFL players, like New England Patriots draft pick Joe Cardona, who is balancing his pro football duties with his Naval obligations. But Niumatalolo is more likely to have a player go on to win the Bronze Star than he is to recruit a 5-star prep prospect.”
— Kyle Kensing, CFBhuddle.com, in an article titled, “College Football’s Most Underrated head coach.”
"It's awful. It's a great opponent, against a team that won nine games. They have the best quarterback they say maybe in their school's history and a really good offense. They have nine starters back and we're playing them on the road. We've been working on that, not necessarily in practice because we haven't had time. We've been trying to change some things on defense, but we've already addressed that. We'll spend a time of training camp preparing for that game."
— Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, on preparing for, and playing Niumatalolo’s Navy teams.
"I could not be more proud of Kenny and what he has accomplished at Navy. It's really incredible when you think about it. Kenny is very passionate about coaching and very competitive. At the same time, he's the most humble person you will ever meet. Success has not changed him one bit. In many ways, he's still the same person I met all those years ago in Hawaii."
— Brian Norwood, a longtime friend of Niumatalolo and first-year as associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Tulsa.
"Kenny's very competitive. I think winning's important to him. Family's really important to him, always has been. Religion's very important to him. He just does a good job compartmentalizing it, putting his priorities first."
— Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, Niumatalolo's predecessor at Navy.
"I have observed our program over the past six years and I attribute a large part of our success to the invaluable role Ken has played as the assistant head coach. A consummate professional and unquestioned role model for our players, he has led on many fronts with impeccable loyalty and character. Ken brings us quality continuity with the highest level of expertise in the triple option. Our staff is extremely excited about the promotion and are anxious to support our new head coach in a manner that will continue to reinforce our 'Expect to Win' attitude at Navy."
— Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk on the day Niumatalolo was hired at Navy.
“If you're searching for Ken Niumatalolo in July, you'd best look west to Hawaii, where the Navy coach spends weeks every summer with friends and family, bodysurfing on the island's familiar beaches and sampling the local fare — chicken katsu and plate lunch, most notably — that simply can't be replicated on the East Coast, even in his own kitchen. Now, if you're searching for Niumatalolo in the fall, say, on a weekday evening, you'll find him at home.”
— Paul Myerberg, USA Today
"He's the epitome of the person you want to be. Very family-oriented, very humble. He does things for other people and doesn't really care about himself. He puts other people above himself."
— Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, to USA Today
"Of course guys were surprised. Football coaches are accustomed to working on Sundays. It's turned out to be a very nice change. You come into the office on Sunday when, and for however long, as you feel like. We all still get our work done. I think, above all else, it shows the assistants that Kenny is a good man who cares about them and their families."
— Longtime Navy defensive line coach Dale Pehrson, on Niumatalolo’s decision to cancel Sunday meetings.