Ex-player Noga enters coaching arena

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Even while on the sidelines, Al Noga hopes to continue giving opposing quarterbacks headaches.

Noga, 36, a former University of Hawai'i All-American defensive lineman and NFL player, is the defensive coordinator of the Hawaiian Islanders, which will make their debut in the arena2 football league March 30.

"One of the reasons I hired Al was, in this game, you gotta get to the quarterback, and Al made a living getting to the quarterback for the Vikings and he played in Arena four years," Islanders coach Guy Benjamin said. "He was one of the best ever in the history of Arena Football getting to the quarterback."

Noga is the only member of the Islanders' staff with no previous coaching experience.

"So far so good," Noga said. "I have a lot to learn. All the years I've been playing I know exactly what I want. I'm going to take one day at a time and try to learn from the coaches who have been doing it for a long time."

Noga's strength, explosiveness and technique allowed him to dominate games at Farrington High School and UH, where he was dubbed "The Samoan Sack Man." Noga was named to the first-team Associated Press' All-America team in 1986.

He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 1988 NFL draft and spent eight seasons in the league. He later played for the San Jose Sabercats and Portland Forest Dragons of the Arena Football League.

Part of Noga's training methods involve having his linemen run up and down the steps at Aloha Stadium.

"This league is like running track," Noga said. "After the first game (I played in) I was so tired all I wanted to do was go home and get some rest."

Tiki Sagapolutele, a defensive end/tight end, is one of the players Noga is coaching.

"Just to be coached by him is a privilege," Sagapolutele said. "He's a great coach, a great motivator. There's a lot we can learn from him as the season goes on."