Stephen F. Austin head football coach Colby Carthel announced the hiring of Ike Eguae as the Lumberjack’s defensive line coach.
“Really fired up to have Ike Eguae join our staff here at SFA!” Carthel said. “He brings nearly 20 years of experience coaching the defensive line. Ike has mentored several players that have gone to receive postseason accolades, All-American status, and be drafted to play in the NFL. He is also a tremendous recruiter with many years’ experience recruiting in the state of Texas.”
Eguae joins SFA after spending the previous seven seasons at Fort Hays State in Kansas.
This past season at FHSU, Eguae’s presence was substantial. The Tigers ranked third in the Mid-America Athletic Conference (MIAA) in average points allowed per game (20.7) and total points allowed (228).
Senior Javaris Sanders excelled under Eguae’s tutelage in 2021. Sanders finished with 42 tackles, added eight tackles for loss and a team-high four sacks. He also finished two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Eguae was instrumental in coaching Sie Doe, Jr., and Nathan Shepherd to All-America and All-MIAA status in 2016. Doe was the most dominant defensive player in the region, earning both D2CCA Super Region 3 and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors at defensive end. Doe was an All-America First Team selection by three organizations, while being named to five All-America teams overall. He produced a new school record 15 sacks for the season to go along with 81 tackles and 19.5 tackles for loss. Doe tied the school record for sacks in a career, producing 21.5 in his two years with the Tigers. Shepherd earned All-America honors from one organization, finishing the year with 61 tackles and three sacks on the interior of the defensive line. Both were All-MIAA selections in 2015 and Shepherd earned Mineral Water Bowl Defensive Player of the Game honors in Fort Hays State’s first postseason game appearance in 20 years.
Shepherd continued his success as one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the nation in 2017, giving FHSU the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. Shepherd earned All-America honors from three organizations and tied as the top vote receiver from NCAA Division II for the Cliff Harris Award, given to the nation’s top small college defensive player. He finished his career at FHSU with 168 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. Shepherd went on participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine before getting selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Shepherd became the first player from FHSU since 1987 to be selected in the NFL Draft.
In 2018, Wyatt Parker gave FHSU an All-America selection on the defensive line for a third straight year. An All-MIAA First Team selection, Parker received All-America Honorable Mention status from the Don Hansen Football Committee. He was an All-Super Region 3 Second Team selection by the same organization. Parker finished a strong four-year career on the field for FHSU with 187 tackles, 10 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Three of Fort Hays State’s defensive linemen on the 2018 squad received All-MIAA status with Malik Young (second team) and Sterling Swopes (third team) joining Parker. In 2019, Javaris Sanders (second team) and Sheldon Schmidt (honorable mention) received All-MIAA honors.
Overall, Eguae has coached four All-Americans and 13 All-MIAA selections in just six years at FHSU. He has helped the team to a record of 51-19 in that span, back-to-back bowl game appearances in 2015 and 2016, and back-to-back NCAA Playoff appearances and MIAA Championships in 2017 and 2018. The 2016 team claimed the program’s first-ever postseason game win, knocking off Eastern New Mexico 45-12 in the Heart of Texas Bowl.
Eguae came to FHSU from Pittsburg State University, where he spent three seasons (2011-2013) as an assistant coach working specifically with the defensive line. Prior to that, Eguae was an assistant coach for two years at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, where he served as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the state of Texas and the Wichita (Kan.) area. He also served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for Coffeyville.
Eguae served as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater of Pittsburg State University in 2007 and 2008 seasons after enjoying a successful four-year career as a defensive lineman (2003-06). He saw action in 33 career games for the Gorillas, including 14 games in 2004 helping Pittsburg State to a 14-1 record and NCAA Division II National Runner-Up finish.
A native of Arlington, Texas, Eguae earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Pittsburg State in May 2007 and then completed his master’s degree in 2014.
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