Inoke Breckterfield (pronounced ee-NO-kay) is in his sixth season as Wisconsin’s defensive line coach in 2020, leading a unit that has become a cornerstone of one of the nation’s strongest defenses during his time in Madison.
The Badgers have allowed an average of just 16.5 points per game since Breckterfield joined the coaching staff, ranking No. 3 nationally over those five years. UW ranks No. 3 in yards allowed during that span, as well, giving up just 292.3 total yards per contest, and stands third in both rushing defense (109.0 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (106.6) over the course of those seasons.
Wisconsin went a combined 52-16 during Breckterfield’s first five seasons on staff, claiming three Big Ten West Division titles and scoring four bowl game wins — making three appearances in New Year’s Six bowls (Cotton, Orange, Rose).
In his first year in Madison, Breckterfield helped the Badgers build the nation’s top defense, ranking No. 1 in scoring defense (13.7 ppg) and No. 2 in total defense (268.5 ypg) in 2015.
He developed a deep front line for the Badgers’ 3-4 defense, anchored by a trio of defensive ends who became part of the winningest senior class in school history with their four-year record of 45-10: Alec James, Chikwe Obasih and Conor Sheehy.
James and Sheehy were second-team All-Big Ten selections as seniors in 2017, contributing to a unit that won a school-record 13 games while finishing the season ranked No. 2 nationally in total defense (262.1 ypg), No. 3 in scoring defense (13.9 ppg), No. 3 in rushing defense (98.4 ypg) and No. 1 in passing efficiency defense (96.4).
Obasih joined James and Sheehy to give UW three All-Big Ten honorees at defensive end in 2016, when the trio combined with nose tackle Olive Sagapolu to record 10 TFLs and 8.5 sacks.
Breckterfield rebuilt the Badgers’ depth up front around another talented trio of defensive ends in Isaiahh Loudermilk, Garrett Rand and former walk-on Matt Henningsen. That group combined with freshman nose tackle Keeanu Benton to rack up 17 TFLs and 10 of the Badgers’ school-record 51 sacks — the nation’s No. 2 total — in 2019.
Breckterfield joined the staff at Wisconsin after three years of coaching defensive tackles at Pittsburgh.
His most successful pupil, Panthers product Aaron Donald, was a first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft following a senior season that saw the consensus All-American sweep the nation’s top defensive honors by claiming the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award. Donald led the nation with 28.5 tackles for loss and ranked 11th in the country with 11.0 sacks as a senior.
Breckterfield came to Pittsburgh after coaching the defensive line at UCLA in 2011. The Bruins played in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game and the Fight Hunger Bowl.
Prior to UCLA, Breckterfield coached the defensive line at Montana during the 2010 season. The Grizzlies ranked first in the Big Sky Conference and 14th nationally in tackles for loss (7.64 per game), and second in the league and 18th nationally in sacks per contest (2.64). The year prior to Breckterfield’s arrival in 2009, Montana ranked 103rd and 88th in those categories, respectively.
A tenacious defensive end at Oregon State, Breckterfield finished his collegiate career as the Beavers’ career leader in tackles for loss (55.5) and sacks (19.5). As a senior in 1998, he was named an Associated Press All-American (third team) and the Pac-10’s Morris Trophy Award recipient as the top defensive lineman in the league as voted on by Pac-10 offensive linemen. Breckterfield additionally was named Oregon State’s Male Athlete of the Year and played in the prestigious Hula Bowl.
Breckterfield was twice named the Beavers’ Most Valuable Player. He was the team’s Defensive Rookie of the Year as a freshman.
Following his OSU career, he played five seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts (1999-2000) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2001-03). In Breckterfield’s initial season with Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers advanced to the Grey Cup final after posting a franchise-best 14-4 mark and tying a CFL record with 12 straight wins.
Breckterfield began his coaching career under Mike Riley, his former head coach, at Oregon State. Joining the Beavers as a volunteer assistant in 2006, Breckterfield went on to serve as a graduate assistant in 2007 and ’08 working with the defensive line. The 2008 Beavers finished with a No. 18 ranking after going 9-4 with a victory over Pitt in the Sun Bowl.
Following his graduate assistantship with Oregon State, Breckterfield landed his first full-time post as defensive line coach at Weber State in 2009.
Breckterfield earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Oregon State. He and his wife, Carol, have three sons: Kalevi and twins Rocky and Riley.
