Natu Tuatagaloa
Encyclopedia
Natu Tuatagaloa
Natu Tuatagaloa (born May 25, 1966 in San Francisco is a former professional football player in the American NFL. He played for the 1995 Houston Oilers, 1992-'93 Seattle Seahawks
, and 1989-91 Cincinnati Bengals
. His parents, Gage & Ria Tuatagaloa, are both first generation immigrants from Western Samoa and The Netherlands. He credits his parents with instilling strong family values and setting a great example of work ethic, determination, perseverance and community involvement.
Both Tuatagaloa graduated from San Rafael High School
in 1984 as a four sport letterman in football
, basketball
, boxing
& track
. Although he was recruited by many schools, he quickly decided to accept a full ride football scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley
.
He was a four year letterman and three year starter on the Golden Bears Football Team with Head coaches Joe Kapp
(84'-86') and Bruce Snyder
(87'-88'). Tuatagaloa was voted Captain his senior year by his teammates. To his benefit, his five year position coach Rod Marinelli
, (2006 Detroit Lions
Head Coach), characterizes the level of talent at a B- while grading the Work Ethic at an A+. Tuatagaloa earned All Pac-10 honors and held the Golden Bear Sack record until 1996. He also was awarded the Brick Muller Award, warded to the most valuable lineman. Tuatagaloa graduated with a BA
in History.
Tuatagaloa spent six years playing professional football in the NFL. As a Defensive Lineman, Tuatagaloa was drafted number 138 in the 5th round in 1989 and played for the 1989, 1990, & 1991 Cincinnati Bengals
under head coach Sam Wyche
. Tuatagaloa played for the 1992 & 1993 Seattle Seahawks
with Coach Tom Flores
. Tuatagaloa, in his fifth season, made seven tackles, two sacks and intercepted a pass in exhibition games. Tuatagaloa played for both the New Orleans Saints
and Houston Oilers in 1995 under head coaches Jim Mora
and Jeff Fisher
. He was a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed against the NFL in regarded to the NFL's Plan B free agency
rules.
Upon returning to San Rafael in 1996, Tuatagaloa joined IDEX Global Services, Inc. to develop the California Telecommunications Services Division. During his eight year career at IDEX, Tuatagaloa was involved with all facets of the business and quickly rose through the ranks to ultimately become the President of the Western Region in 2004.
Currently, Tuatagaloa is a Principal at BEI Gateway which provides turn-key solutions for Facilities and Technology Infrastructure.
Tuatagaloa was elected to the San Rafael City School Board
in November 2001 with 31.39% and is serving a second term as trustee and the current Board President.
Member of the San Rafael Rotary Club #409 in District 5150. He was inducted into the Marin County Athletic Hall of Fame in November 2004. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Marin Athletic Foundation.
Tuatagaloa and his wife Judy reside in San Rafael with daughters, Tianna, Malia and McKenna.
Natu Tuatagaloa (born May 25, 1966 in San Francisco is a former professional football player in the American NFL. He played for the 1995 Houston Oilers, 1992-'93 Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, and 1989-91 Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
. His parents, Gage & Ria Tuatagaloa, are both first generation immigrants from Western Samoa and The Netherlands. He credits his parents with instilling strong family values and setting a great example of work ethic, determination, perseverance and community involvement.
Both Tuatagaloa graduated from San Rafael High School
San Rafael High School
San Rafael High School is a coeducational public secondary school located at 185 Mission Avenue in San Rafael, California, United States.The school is part of the San Rafael City Schools school district...
in 1984 as a four sport letterman in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
& track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. Although he was recruited by many schools, he quickly decided to accept a full ride football scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
He was a four year letterman and three year starter on the Golden Bears Football Team with Head coaches Joe Kapp
Joe Kapp
Joseph Robert Kapp is a former professional American and Canadian football quarterback. He is also a former college football head coach of the University of California, and a former general manager of the CFL's BC Lions. Kapp played primarily with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the CFL's BC Lions...
(84'-86') and Bruce Snyder
Bruce Snyder
Bruce Snyder was an American football player and coach. After playing for Oregon in the early 1960s as a fullback, Snyder embarked on a coaching career...
(87'-88'). Tuatagaloa was voted Captain his senior year by his teammates. To his benefit, his five year position coach Rod Marinelli
Rod Marinelli
Rodney Marinelli is the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Chicago Bears. He is the former head coach of the Detroit Lions...
, (2006 Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
Head Coach), characterizes the level of talent at a B- while grading the Work Ethic at an A+. Tuatagaloa earned All Pac-10 honors and held the Golden Bear Sack record until 1996. He also was awarded the Brick Muller Award, warded to the most valuable lineman. Tuatagaloa graduated with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in History.
Tuatagaloa spent six years playing professional football in the NFL. As a Defensive Lineman, Tuatagaloa was drafted number 138 in the 5th round in 1989 and played for the 1989, 1990, & 1991 Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
under head coach Sam Wyche
Sam Wyche
Samuel David "Sam" Wyche is a former American football player and head coach, who is best known as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL...
. Tuatagaloa played for the 1992 & 1993 Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
with Coach Tom Flores
Tom Flores
Thomas R. "Tom" Flores is a retired American football quarterback and coach. Flores and Mike Ditka are the only two people in the National Football League history to win a Super Bowl as a player, as an assistant coach, and as a head coach...
. Tuatagaloa, in his fifth season, made seven tackles, two sacks and intercepted a pass in exhibition games. Tuatagaloa played for both the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
and Houston Oilers in 1995 under head coaches Jim Mora
Jim E. Mora
James Earnest Mora is the former head coach of the USFL's Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars and the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. He played football at Occidental College where he was also a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. His son Jim L...
and Jeff Fisher
Jeff Fisher
Jeffrey Michael "Jeff" Fisher is the former head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. He has a 146-120 career record as an NFL head coach.-Early life:...
. He was a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed against the NFL in regarded to the NFL's Plan B free agency
Plan B free agency
The Plan B free agency was a type of free agency that became active in the National Football League in February 1989. Plan B free agency permitted all teams in the NFL to preserve limited rights of no more than 37 total players a season...
rules.
Upon returning to San Rafael in 1996, Tuatagaloa joined IDEX Global Services, Inc. to develop the California Telecommunications Services Division. During his eight year career at IDEX, Tuatagaloa was involved with all facets of the business and quickly rose through the ranks to ultimately become the President of the Western Region in 2004.
Currently, Tuatagaloa is a Principal at BEI Gateway which provides turn-key solutions for Facilities and Technology Infrastructure.
Tuatagaloa was elected to the San Rafael City School Board
San Rafael City Schools
San Rafael City Schools is a school district headquartered in San Rafael, California, United States.The district, according to the San Rafael city charter, is composed of two separate boundaries: the San Rafael Elementary School District and the San Rafael High School District , which are governed...
in November 2001 with 31.39% and is serving a second term as trustee and the current Board President.
Member of the San Rafael Rotary Club #409 in District 5150. He was inducted into the Marin County Athletic Hall of Fame in November 2004. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Marin Athletic Foundation.
Tuatagaloa and his wife Judy reside in San Rafael with daughters, Tianna, Malia and McKenna.