Pack Football
Defensive Coaching Staff
Hunter Hughes
Defensive Coordinator
Hunter Hughes is entering his fourth season as CSU-Pueblo’s defensive coordinator.
Under Hughes’ leadership, the ThunderWolves defensive unit has been consistently ranked among the top defenses in the RMAC and the nation.
In 2010, Hughes’ unit allowed the ninth-least points per game in the country, allowing just 15.6 points per game. It also led the RMAC in sacks and turnover ratio, the latter of which is was ranked 4th in the nation.
CSU-Pueblo’s ability to force turnovers has been a hallmark under Hughes, as the Pack led the RMAC in turnover ratio in 2009 and 2010. Also, in 2009, the ThunderWolf defense led the conference in interceptions, and boasted the lowest third-down and fourth-down efficiency in the RMAC.
Hughes rose through the ranks as a coaching assistant with two of the most prestigious Division I football programs in the country - University of Colorado and the University of Tennessee.
With the University of Colorado, Hughes was a defensive graduate assistant from 2003-2006, assisting in coaching various defensive positions as well as assisting in recruiting prospective CU students east of the Mississippi River. With the University of Tennessee, Hughes also served as a defensive graduate assistant, focusing chiefly on linebackers and defensive backs.
Hughes received his Master’s in physical education and sport management from Middle Tennessee State University in 2001. He and his wife, Stephanie, an assistant coach for the CSU-Pueblo softball team, live in Pueblo.
Donnell Leomiti
Defensive Backs Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Donnell Leomiti is entering his fourth season as CSU-Pueblo's defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator.
Leomiti has coached up an incredibly efficient defensive backfield in his three seasons with the Pack, coaching one all-region defensive back (2010 selection, Grant Crunkleton) and being a main reason why CSU-Pueblo led the RMAC in turnover ratio in both 2009 and 2010. In 2010, CSU-Pueblo was 4th in the nation in turnover ratio.
In his time at CSU-Pueblo, Leomiti has coached five all-RMAC defensive backs: Chris Brown (2009 and 2010), Crunkleton (2010), Jon Bailey (2010), Josh Costa (2010) and Jerome Page (2008).
Leomiti had been the defensive technical intern at CU since 2005. At CU, his responsibilities included working with the secondary as well as on-campus recruiting.
Leomiti arrived at the post after serving as a high school assistant coach from 1999-2004. He spent 1999 and 2000 at Denver North High School, and then followed that up with a four-year stint as linebackers coach at Boulder High School.
As a CU player, Leomiti was a member of many great teams in the mid-1990s. Starting out as a receiver at CU, he saw action in 11 games, including the Fiesta Bowl, as a true freshman in 1992. He moved to safety the following year, starting at strong safety as a junior and senior. He had 159 career tackles, including 98 as a senior (the third most on the team), along with three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and seven pass deflections. Two of his biggest plays came his junior year (1994): he returned an interception for a touchdown at Missouri and had a key fumble recovery in the fourth quarter at Michigan, a big play in the game now referred to as both "The Miracle in Michigan" and "The Catch."
Born in Santa Ana, Calif., he graduated from Leone High School in Pavaiai, American Samoa, in 1992 where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He was a two-time Ashaa League most valuable player on offense, earning the honor his junior and senior years. He is married to former CSU-Pueblo all-American cross country athlete, Lauren Dunsmoor. The couple has three children: Donnell Jr., Siliaga, and Malekai.
Paul Creighton
Defensive Line Coach
Paul Creighton is entering his first season as the defensive line coach at Colorado State University-Pueblo.
He comes to CSU-Pueblo after serving as the defensive graduate assistant at the University of Colorado during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
Creighton returned to his alma mater of Colorado after a stint at Auburn University where he was the graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach for two years, working with some athletes that went on to win the 2010 NCAA FBS National Championship.
Originally a walk-on at Colorado where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2006, he was placed on scholarship after just one semester. He ultimately played in 47 games at CU at tight end, fullback and special teams, seeing action in two bowl games.
A Tecumseh, Neb.-native, he graduated from Niwot High School in Niwot, Colo. in 2002. He is married to the former Kathleen Almon.
Craig Ward
Assistant Defensive Line Coach
Craig Ward is entering his fourth season as an assistant defensive line coach at CSU-Pueblo.
A former all-conference linebacker at then-University of Southern Colorado, Ward boasts a 100-tackle season to his credit during his collegiate days. He also played for one season in the USFL with the Michigan Panthers in 1983.
Ward and his wife, Annette, have eight children: Shawana, Millie, Anna, D.J., Kimmy, Josh, Patrick and Anthony.
