University of Arizona Athletics

Lyle Moevao (pronounced MOY-vow) enters his third season with the Wildcats, and his first since earning a promotion to oversee the Arizona running backs room, in 2026. He was hired in January 2024 and served the program in various roles in each of head coach Brent Brennan's first two seasons.

While assisting with the running backs during the 2025 season Moevao helped develop Ismail Mahdi, who went on to earn All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition. Under Moevao's guidance the Wildcats running backs combined for over 1,700 yards rushing and and 15 rushing touchdowns.

Moevao previously spent time as an offensive analyst helping with quarterbacks under Coach Brennan at San Jose State University. The Spartans led the Mountain West in passing offense during the 2023 season, averaging 272.5 yards per game with 23 touchdowns through the air and 3,270 total yards passing.  

SJSU’s quarterback Chevan Cordeiro was named to the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List prior to the 2023 season. Corderio was also named 2023 All-Mountain West First Team along with tailback Kairee Robinson.  

The Spartans prolific offense finished third in the Mountain West in total touchdowns scored with 55, while averaging 31.9 points per game. He also served as defensive analyst in 2021 with San Jose State. 

Moevao joined SJSU in 2021 after serving as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Northern Colorado during the 2020 season. Prior to his time at UNC, Moevao was the running backs coach for the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). He was the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Lewis and Clark College for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.  

He was the running backs coach with the San Antonio Commanders, a member of the Alliance of American Football and quarterbacks coach and the passing game coordinator with Lewis & Clark from 2017-18. Prior to joining Lewis & Clark in 2017, he served in two different roles with his alma mater Oregon State (Quality Control - RB, 2013-14 and Quality Control - QB, 2015-16). 

The 2010 Oregon State graduate majored in sociology and was a quarterback on the Beavers football team during the 2006 through 2009 seasons. As a starting quarterback, Oregon State posted a 14-4 win-loss record and won the 2007 Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, California and the 2008 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Moevao went on to play two seasons of professional football in France and Japan.

Lyle Moevao Coaching Experience

• 2026–present: Arizona (Assistant Coach - Running Backs)
• 2025: Arizona (Assistant Coach - Offense)
• 2024: Arizona (Assistant Coach - Quarterbacks)
• 2022–23: San Jose State (Offensive Analyst - Quarterbacks)
• 2021: San Jose State (Defensive Analyst)
• 2020: Northern Colorado (Recruiting Coordinator / Running Backs)
• 2019: AAF San Antonio Commanders (Running Backs Coach)
• 2017–18: Lewis & Clark State (Pass Game Coordinator / Quarterbacks)
• 2015–16: Oregon State (Quality Control - Quarterbacks)
• 2013–14: Oregon State (Quality Control - Running Backs)

Last updated: May 5, 2026