LAS CRUCES, N.M. - NM State head football coach Jerry Kill is no longer the only individual on the Aggies' coaching staff with ties to Southern Illinois.
As announced by the Aggies' first-year head coach, Chuka Ndulue will be NM State's defensive line coach.
Since 2019, Ndulue called the FCS ranks home as he served as the defensive line coach at Southern Illinois for three seasons. Through his three seasons in Carbondale, Ill., the Salukis totaled 21 victories and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs in both 2020 and 2021.
During his time with the Salukis, three of the team's defensive linemen earned either All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) First or Second Team honors.
Scott Frost, who was named the 2017 AFCA Coach of the Year while at UCF, selected Ndulue to serve on his staff at Nebraska in the 2018 season. That year, Ndulue was a graduate assistant coach with the Huskers.
Arguably the best defensive lineman in the Big 12 - and one of the finest in the country - during his playing career, Ndulue slipped on an Oklahoma jersey from 2010-14 and was a three-year starter for the Sooners. With Ndulue on their side, the Sooners put forth a 51-15 record, won a trio of bowl games and laid claim to two Big 12 regular-season titles. All told, Ndulue racked up 140 tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss and 12 sacks throughout his collegiate career. Twice he was named an All-Big 12 Second Team choice and he established an Oklahoma defensive lineman record with 15 tackles in a single game.
Directly after his playing days at Oklahoma, Ndulue took part in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, catching the eye of the Denver Broncos in the process. He wound up signing with the Broncos and spent three seasons in the ranks of the NFL before deciding to pursue a career in coaching.
Oklahoma welcomed Ndulue back in 2017 and 2018 where he was a volunteer assistant coach. He helped the Sooners win the 2017 Big 12 Conference title and play in a 2018 College Football Playoff semifinal.
Ndulue earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from Oklahoma in 2014.
For complete coverage of NM State football as the Aggies continue to gear up for year one under coach Kill and his staff, visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Football), Twitter (@NMStateFootball) and Instagram (@NMStateFootball).
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