Nick Alaimalo was named the running backs and co-special teams coordinator at Sacramento State in January of 2026.
Alaimalo spent the 2025 season at Washington State where he was the assistant wide receivers coach. That season, Joshua Meredith and Tony Freeman each caught at least 50 passes to lead the team. Meredith finished with a team-high 723 yards and averaged 12.7 yards per reception.
Alaimalo spent the three previous seasons an assistant at Idaho State. In 2024, Alaimalo was the inside receivers coach where he helped a Bengal passing offense finish eighth nationally in the FCS at 298.4 ypg. In his first season at Idaho State, as running backs coach, he had 1,248 rushing yards between five different backs accounting for seven touchdowns and adding 339 receiving yards. Moving to slot receivers in 2023, Alaimalo tutored Chedon James to all-Big Sky honors, leading the FCS in receptions and being a Walter Payton Award Finalist. Alaimalo also assisted with all aspects of special teams all three years.
After playing linebacker and running back at New Mexico Highlands, he moved into the coaching ranks at his alma mater assisting in running back development. In 2010, he joined Arizona State beginning his long-standing relationship with Dennis Erickson and helping the Sun Devils to a Las Vegas Bowl berth.
In 2012, he joined the Utah Utes working with a cornerback group that combined for 21 pass deflections, four interceptions, and four forced fumbles. The following year, he worked with the Utah running backs where four players combined for 1,450 yards.
Alaimalo was selected for the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship and assigned to the Kansas City Chiefs, working directly with Assistant Head Coach, Eric Bieniemy, throughout training camp and preseason games.
After leaving Utah, Alaimalo spent two seasons as defensive coordinator at Snow JC overseeing a defense that ranked second nationally, with the top-ranked run defense, along with holding opponents to 17 points a game. He then re-united with Dennis Erickson as an assistant with the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football.
After the AAF, Alaimalo headed East to work at Robert Morris as the run game and special teams coordinator. He also developed an all-conference running back, two players in the top 10 in rushing in conference, and seven touchdowns between six different running backs before joining the Bengals.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2008 and a master’s in business administration in human resources in 2009 from New Mexhico Highlands.
During his collegiate career, Alaimalo played at El Camino JC in 2004 and New Mexico Highlands from 2005-07, where he played both running back and linebacker.
A former prep player at vaunted Long Beach Poly, Alaimalo is a native of Carson, Calif. He and his wife, Joi, have a daughter, Kaleah.
