MOSCOW, Idaho – University of Idaho head football coach Thomas Ford Jr. finalized his initial coaching staff Tuesday with the addition of former NFL players Lance Dunbar and Tevita Finau to the Vandal football staff. Dunbar will coach running backs and Finau is set to coach the defensive line.
 
Dunbar comes to Idaho after serving two seasons as the offensive quality control analyst at Tulsa where he helped the Golden Hurricanes average almost 400 yards per game on offense in 2024. He joined the staff in the spring of 2023.
 
"I am excited to be a part of what coach Ford is building here at The University of Idaho," Dunbar said. "We are looking forward to building relationships and developing our young running backs. I am honored that coach Ford is trusting me with a room and athletes that he personally coached and recruited."
 
Before stepping to the coaching side of the game, Dunbar played in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by Dallas in 2012 and spent five seasons (2012-16) with the Cowboys. He spent the 2017 campaign with the Rams and finished his pro career with the Dallas Renegades of the XFL in 2020.

The running back finished his NFL career with 473 rushing yards, 647 receiving yards and two total touchdowns.
 
Before his time in the NFL, Dunbar was the greatest running back in the history of the University of North Texas and one of the most prolific in Sun Belt Conference history. He racked up 4,224 rushing yards and scored 49 touchdowns. He had 5,375 all-purpose yards and racked up 21 100-yard games. All UNT records. He is the only North Texas player in to ever have three straight 1,000-yard seasons.
 
He was a two-time Honorable Mention All-American for Sports Illustrated and a three-time All-Sun Belt running back.
 
"I'm fired up for Lance and his wife to join the Vandal family here in Moscow," Ford said. "Coach Dunbar is another coach that brings NFL playing experience at the position we are asking him to lead. He was a phenomenal player, but his ability to communicate and his understanding of pass protection are what excite me the most. Lance is going to do a great job with the group on a day-to-day basis but also provides us with direct recruiting in-roads to the great state of Texas!"
 
Dunbar will be joined in Moscow by his wife Devyn and his son Micah.
 
Finau also brings NFL experience to the staff. Between 2012 and 2015, he spent time with the Eagles, Cowboys, Jets and Texans.
 
In 2023, he was the defensive line coach at Utah State University. He helped the Aggies earn a bowl berth into the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Prior to his time at USU, he was a graduate assistant at Utah, his alma mater, helping the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 Championships and Rose Bowl appearances.
 
"I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Vandal coaching staff and work with coach Ford and coach Cort Dennison," Finau said. "Vandal football has a strong tradition of outstanding defensive line play and I am looking forward to working with our talented defensive line room and adding to that legacy."
 
During the 2022 season, Finau was part of a Utes defense that led the Pac-12 in sacks (2.93 spg) and tackles for loss (6.4 tflpg) and ranked second in total defense allowing 334.1 yards per game.
 
Finau also worked with the 2022 Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship, working with the defensive line of the Los Angeles Rams.
 
In 2021, Finau helped coach a Utah defense that led the Pac-12 in sacks (3.0s pg) and tackles for loss (6.9 tflpg) and ranked third in total defense allowing 341.6 yards per game.
 
Finau also helped Junior Tafuna to second-team all-Pac 12 honors during both the 2021 and 2022 campaigns.
 
Finau spent five years (2015-19) at Orem (Utah) High School, including serving as the team's co-defensive coordinator for four seasons as he helped lead the Tigers to four-consecutive state championships before stepping into the college ranks.
 
"I'm absolutely juiced to get Tevita Finau and his family to the Palouse," Ford said. "Coach Finau is a master technician and excellent with the small intricacies of the defensive line position. Tevita is another coach that has NFL experience playing the position he will be coaching for the Vandals. I have no doubt that he will use his knowledge to develop Sunday guys here in Moscow. I'm also very excited about the recruiting ties he has in the Sacramento area. Coach is another phenomenal addition to our staff!"
 
Finau will be joined in Moscow by his wife Adrianne Finau and his five children Aila, Ahea, Aja, Alcie and Soloa.