Kennedy Pola
Encyclopedia
Kennedy Polamalu is an American football
coach and former player. Currently, he is the offensive coordinator
for the USC Trojans. Pola is presently in the process of legally changing his name to Kennedy Polamalu.
at USC
from 1982 to 1985. His contributions helped the USC Trojans defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes
, 20–17, in the 1985 Rose Bowl
.
, Hershel Dennis
and Tom Malone
. Prior to that he coached at the high school level and for UCLA
, San Diego State University
and the University of Colorado
. He coached the Cleveland Browns
in 2004 and the Jacksonville Jaguars
from 2005 to 2009. On July 24, 2010, Pola accepted a position with USC to become the offensive coordinator
. The hiring led Tennessee Titans
coach Jeff Fisher
to publicly criticize USC head coach, Lane Kiffin
, for not following generally accepted NFL protocol
: that the head coach or athletic department of the interested team should call the other head coach and let them know that they will be contacting an assistant on their staff. Fisher was upset that Kiffin called and left a voicemail
after Pola had already accepted the job. Kiffin then explained that he called Pola on Friday, July 23, to gauge his interest; after getting Pola's positive answer on Saturday, Kiffin called Fisher and left a message. On 26 July 2010, the Titans filed a lawsuit against Kiffin and USC for "maliciously luring" Pola away, asking for damages.
, star safety of the Pittsburgh Steelers
. Pola has three children. He was born the day President Kennedy was assassinated, and was named in his honor. He graduated from Mater Dei High School
in Santa Ana, California
in 1982 where he also played football and was Student Class President his Senior Year.
Pola's brother, Aoatoa Polamalu, played nose tackle at Penn State
from 1984-1988.
Upon moving to California
from American Samoa
in the mid-1970s, Kennedy's family shortened their last name to Pola. In 2011, Pola began the process of legally changing it back to Polamalu while preparing for a return to Samoa. In June, he was part of a contingent that included former USC players Rey Maualuga
, Deuce Lutui, Malaefou MacKenzie
and others who returned to Samoa for a football camp sponsored by his nephew, former USC Trojans All-American and Pittsburgh Steelers
safety Troy Polamalu
.
His name change became official in August of 2011.
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...
coach and former player. Currently, he is the offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the USC Trojans. Pola is presently in the process of legally changing his name to Kennedy Polamalu.
College career
Pola was a fullbackFullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
at USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
from 1982 to 1985. His contributions helped the USC Trojans defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes
1985 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1985 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1985-1986. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record, including the 1985 Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, where they won 10–7 against the Brigham Young...
, 20–17, in the 1985 Rose Bowl
1985 Rose Bowl
The 1985 Rose Bowl Game was a postseason college football bowl game between the University of Southern California Trojans of the Pacific-10 Conference and The Ohio State University Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference, held on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California...
.
Coaching career
Pola coached running backs and special teams for the USC Trojans from 2000 to 2003. He coached Justin FargasJustin Fargas
Justin Fargas is an American football running back who is a Free Agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
, Hershel Dennis
Hershel Dennis
Hershel Dennis Jr. is a running back for the Sioux Falls Storm in the Indoor Football League . Dennis played college football running back as a student athlete at the University of Southern California...
and Tom Malone
Tom Malone (American football)
Thomas Malone is an American football punter for the Sacramento Mountain Lions. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
. Prior to that he coached at the high school level and for UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
and the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
. He coached the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2004 and the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 2005 to 2009. On July 24, 2010, Pola accepted a position with USC to become the offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
. The hiring led Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
coach 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:...
to publicly criticize USC head coach, Lane Kiffin
Lane Kiffin
Lane Monte Kiffin is the current head coach of the University of Southern California Trojans college football team. He was previously the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers college football team, the Oakland Raiders of the NFL, and the offensive coordinator for the Trojans...
, for not following generally accepted NFL protocol
Etiquette
Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
: that the head coach or athletic department of the interested team should call the other head coach and let them know that they will be contacting an assistant on their staff. Fisher was upset that Kiffin called and left a voicemail
Voicemail
Voicemail is a computer based system that allows users and subscribers to exchange personal voice messages; to select and deliver voice information; and to process transactions relating to individuals, organizations, products and services, using an ordinary telephone...
after Pola had already accepted the job. Kiffin then explained that he called Pola on Friday, July 23, to gauge his interest; after getting Pola's positive answer on Saturday, Kiffin called Fisher and left a message. On 26 July 2010, the Titans filed a lawsuit against Kiffin and USC for "maliciously luring" Pola away, asking for damages.
Personal
His nephew is Troy PolamaluTroy Polamalu
Troy Aumua Polamalu is an American football strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He played college football at the University of Southern California.-High school:Troy Polamalu graduated...
, star safety of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. Pola has three children. He was born the day President Kennedy was assassinated, and was named in his honor. He graduated from Mater Dei High School
Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California)
Mater Dei High School is a private, Catholic, co-educational secondary school in Santa Ana, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. With an enrollment of 2,100 students Mater Dei High School is one of the largest Catholic high schools in the United States...
in Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
in 1982 where he also played football and was Student Class President his Senior Year.
Pola's brother, Aoatoa Polamalu, played nose tackle at Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
from 1984-1988.
Upon moving to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
from American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
in the mid-1970s, Kennedy's family shortened their last name to Pola. In 2011, Pola began the process of legally changing it back to Polamalu while preparing for a return to Samoa. In June, he was part of a contingent that included former USC players Rey Maualuga
Rey Maualuga
Rey Maualuga is an American football linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bengals in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
, Deuce Lutui, Malaefou MacKenzie
Malaefou MacKenzie
Matthew Mark Maleafou Anesi MacKenzie is an American football fullback who played in the National Football League in 2003.-career:...
and others who returned to Samoa for a football camp sponsored by his nephew, former USC Trojans All-American and Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
safety Troy Polamalu
Troy Polamalu
Troy Aumua Polamalu is an American football strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He played college football at the University of Southern California.-High school:Troy Polamalu graduated...
.
His name change became official in August of 2011.