Malloe returns to Washington for Penn State's 35-28 loss replay

Ikaika Malloe will return to Washington on Saturday when Penn State plays the Huskies. The Nittany Lions defensive line coach faces the fifth meeting in program history between the two schools. The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on FS1.

Malloe played linebacker for Washington from 1992 to 1995. He joined the team as a walk-on and helped secure a share of the Pac-10 title in his senior year. The Huskies recognized his contribution by giving him the Bob Jarvis Most Inspirational Walk-On Award in 1993.

During his time in Seattle, Malloe trained under head coaches Don James and Jim Lambright. James led the program for 18 seasons and holds the all-time wins record. Lambright took over in 1993 and guided the team through several memorable victories. Malloe credited these coaches with teaching him discipline, respect, and integrity. He noted that they were old school and blue collar, emphasizing that players earned what they got while learning to carry themselves on and off the field.

After his playing days, Malloe spent two years coaching at Portland State with Lester Towns from 2012 to 2013. Towns, now the head coach at Los Angeles Valley College, described Malloe as a fighter who always had his back. The two developed a close bond during that period. When Towns went through a divorce, Malloe opened his home to him and his children, inviting them to stay the night and declaring them part of his family.

Malloe later moved to Utah State for two seasons before returning to Washington in 2016. In his first year, he coached the Huskies to a spot in the four-team College Football Playoff. He also worked with defensive tackle Vita Vea, who is now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Malloe said that facing Alabama in the Peach Bowl changed his recruiting strategy because the size difference was stark. Vea was the only player close to the Alabama players in size.

In 2017, Malloe faced another lesson while coaching at Washington. Saquon Barkley rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the Huskies' 35-28 loss to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl. Malloe said that game altered how he teaches tackling. He observed that NFL players bounced off Barkley and had to rethink techniques for bringing down larger backs. He now uses those adjusted methods to instruct his players at Penn State.

Malloe maintains his Polynesian traditions while on the East Coast. He wears Hawaiian gear on Aloha Friday and his players wear Ohana shirts. Defensive tackle Siale Taupaki, who followed Malloe from UCLA to Penn State, described the coach as a father figure. Taupaki said Malloe understood his personal flaws and helped him correct his game. Taupaki noted that while everyone else spoke to Malloe like a coach, he spoke to him like a dad.

Washington offensive line coach Chris Strausser, who served on the staff from 2014 to 2016, called Malloe a consistently positive person. He said Malloe shows up with great energy and affects those around him in an infectious way. Strausser noted that Malloe does not change his personality based on the flow of the season.