LEBANON, Ill. – McKendree University football coach Mike Babcock has announced the addition of Garrett McKay and Opetaia Tuiava as assistant coaches for the Bearcats. McKay will coach running backs and Tuiava will coach the defensive line.

"Excited to bring in two high quality coaches to our program," Babcock said about his new assistant coaches. "Both coaches have great experience and will help our players reach their full potential"

McKay comes to McKendree after spending the past year as a receivers and cornerback coach at Auburn Riverside High School in Auburn, Wash. Prior to his one season at the high school ranks, he spent the 2020 season as an offensive quality control coach at Eastern Michigan University.

Along with experience working as a football coach, McKay worked as an intern with the University of Washington football strength and conditioning staff during the Spring of 2019.

McKay got into coaching after spending four seasons as a receiver at Whitworth University in Spokane, Wash. In his four seasons (2014-18), he was a team captain in both 2017 and 2018 and was a three-time First-Team All-Conference selection in 2016, 2017 and 2018. He holds school records for career receptions (270), receiving yards (3,100) and longest punt return (82 yards) and is also the all-time leader in receptions in the Northwest Conference. He caught 22 touchdown passes in his collegiate career.

Was a member of two NCAA Division III playoff teams with the Pirates in 2015 and 2018 and helped lead the school to a Northwest Conference title in 2018 when the Pirates went 10-1 and 7-0 in league play. Additionally, he was an Academic All-West Region selection in 2016 and a Torchbearer Leadership Award winner in 2018.

As a high school student-athlete at Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, Wash., from 2010-13, he was team-captain as a senior in 2013 and was a three-time All-League receiver (2011, 2012, 2013) and a two-time All-Area receiver (2012, 2013). He was also a member of Bellarmine Prep's State runner-up team in 2012 and its third-place team in 2013. He was also a Scholar-Athlete winner in 2013 and a Tacoma Athletic Commission Student-Athlete of the Year in 2013-14.

McKay, who was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a student-athlete at Whitworth, earned his Bachelor's degree in Health Science with a minor in Kinesiology from Whitworh in 2018 and is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Teaching from Central Washington University.

Meanwhile, Tuiava comes to McKendree after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kan. Tuiava coached linebackers in 2019 and spent the 2020 season coaching the defensive line and serving as the recruiting coordinator.

Prior to returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach, Tuiava spent one season as the outside linebackers coach at NCAA Division II  Colorado School of the Mines. While at Mines, he set up practice plans, presentations, defensive scouting reports and updated depth charts. He also served as the Assistant Academic Coordinator and Assistant Youth Camp Director.

In addition to working at Colorado Mines, Tuiava served as the Bill Walsh Minority Intern with the Houston Texans and assisted with the defensive line.

In 2017, Tuiava was a graduate assistant football coach at Lindenwood University-Belleville in Belleville, Ill. While working with the Lynx, Tuiava was the defensive line coach and assistant defensive backs coach and he worked as an assistant position coach for the Falcon School District in Colorado Springs, Colo., from 2014-17.

As a student-athlete at the University of Saint Mary, Tuiava was a Second-Team All-KCAC honoree in 2011 and also earned All-KCAC Honorable Mention honors in 2012. He was also the team's Champions of Character nominee in 2012. 

Tuiava earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Saint Mary in 2013.

TRANSACTIONS: McKendree University names Garrett McKay and Opetaia Tuiava as assistant football coaches for the upcoming 2021 season.