Beyond the X’s and O’s: Kean’s Ify Asoluka Selected for NCAA-NFL Coaches Academy 

By: David Macaulay-Smith and Rashan Addison | Published: January 28, 2026

For Kean University assistant football coach Ify Asoluka, the third time was the charm. After applying twice before, Asoluka recently received the news that he has been selected to participate in the NCAA-NFL Coaches Academy, a premier professional development program held Feb. 18 through 20 in Indianapolis. 

The academy, a joint venture between the NCAA and the National Football League, is designed to support the professional growth of collegiate football coaches through leadership training, education, and networking opportunities. For Asoluka, the invitation represents more than just a line on a resume. He views the upcoming sessions as a vital bridge to the next stage of his career, offering him the chance to build a network of mentors and peers who have navigated the same path toward leadership. 

“It is something that is going to give me great connections and being able to build relationships with other coaches and managers and people that have been in my shoes,” Asoluka said. 

Asoluka’s coaching philosophy is rooted in the idea that a football field is a classroom for life. He believes that coaches are, first and foremost, teachers who must prepare young men for the world beyond the stadium. He explained that the grit and discipline required on the field are directly relatable to “everyday life issues and struggles.” By coaching through this lens, he encourages his players to use football as a vehicle to gain an education and experience the world, much as he did during his own playing days at Monmouth University. 

This mindset was sparked by his own mentor, Ashley Pierre, known as Coach Smoke, at Irvington High School. Asoluka recalled that he did not originally set out to be a coach, but Pierre’s persistent encouragement eventually led to a five-year tenure and a state championship in 2021. That experience taught him that a coach’s influence extends far beyond the final score. 

“I just try to be authentic,” Asoluka said. “I am giving them the game, but then also I am giving them game about life as well.” 

Before arriving at Kean, Asoluka sharpened his skills in the high-stakes environment of junior college football at Monroe University in New York. It was there that he began to understand the administrative weight of the collegiate game, from recruiting to monitoring GPAs. To further this growth, the academy’s curriculum will immerse him in sessions focused on communication with campus and community stakeholders and building a culture centered on student-athlete success. 

While many coaching clinics focus on X’s and O’s, the NCAA-NFL Academy dives into these administrative complexities, including football program budget management and coaching strategies and philosophies. Asoluka is particularly looking forward to these sessions as he prepares for his eventual goal of becoming a head coach. 

“These are things that I am going to need to know so that way I could lead just not my position group, where now it is a hundred guys counting on me instead of ten guys,” he said. 

This holistic approach has resonated deeply with the Cougars’ locker room. Defensive back Tre Allen described Asoluka as the best position coach he has ever had, noting that Asoluka always makes the most of the limited time they have together to ensure the group improves daily. 

“I feel like he’s helped me grow as a player and a person in the best way possible,” Allen said. 

Fellow defensive back Chris Amos echoed that sentiment, pointing to the genuine connection Asoluka builds with every player. Amos noted that the coach’s “real passion for the game” is evident in the energy he brings to the facility every single day. 

Kean Head Coach Dan Garrett called Asoluka a passionate and energetic rising star, noting that his selection continues a tradition of excellence at Kean, following in the footsteps of former assistants Matt Kreider and Keith Migliorino. 

As Asoluka prepares for Indianapolis, he is focused on the long-term impact he can have on the program. He believes the lessons learned from veteran NFL coaches will help him refine his methods and better serve his athletes. He remains driven by the idea that while the game of football does not last forever, the lessons learned under his whistle will.