Tavita Thompson Named Tight Ends Coach
1/12/2026 2:11:00 PM | Football
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly football head coach Tim Skipper has announced that Tavita Thompson will join his staff as tight ends coach.
Thompson comes to Cal Poly after having spent this past season at Ohio University as the offensive line coach. He was part of a staff this year that helped the Bobcats go 9-4 and a win over UNLV at the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl. He coached two offensive linemen who earned All-MAC honors.
Prior to that, he spent seven years at Central Michigan, where he coached multiple positions. He was CMU's run game coordinator and offensive line coach, pass game coordinator and tight ends coach, and tackles and tight ends coach.
Prior to his arrival at CMU, Thompson spent three seasons as a graduate assistant coach with Nebraska, where he worked with tight ends Cethan Carter and Tyler Hoppes. Carter entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, playing for the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins, while Hoppes claims the most receptions of any Huskers tight end (34). Thompson also made appearances at Oregon State (2012-14) and Pacific (2011-12).
Thompson played offensive line at Oregon State from 2004-08, helping the Beavers to four consecutive bowl victories in that time. He saw action in 18 games over his career. Thompson appeared in two preseason games for the New York Jets in 2009 and spent the 2010 season in the United Football League with the Sacramento Mountain Lions.
A native of Honolulu, Thompson graduated from Oregon State in 2008 with a degree in human development and family studies. He earned a master's from Nebraska in 2016.
Thompson comes to Cal Poly after having spent this past season at Ohio University as the offensive line coach. He was part of a staff this year that helped the Bobcats go 9-4 and a win over UNLV at the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl. He coached two offensive linemen who earned All-MAC honors.
Prior to that, he spent seven years at Central Michigan, where he coached multiple positions. He was CMU's run game coordinator and offensive line coach, pass game coordinator and tight ends coach, and tackles and tight ends coach.
Prior to his arrival at CMU, Thompson spent three seasons as a graduate assistant coach with Nebraska, where he worked with tight ends Cethan Carter and Tyler Hoppes. Carter entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, playing for the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins, while Hoppes claims the most receptions of any Huskers tight end (34). Thompson also made appearances at Oregon State (2012-14) and Pacific (2011-12).
Thompson played offensive line at Oregon State from 2004-08, helping the Beavers to four consecutive bowl victories in that time. He saw action in 18 games over his career. Thompson appeared in two preseason games for the New York Jets in 2009 and spent the 2010 season in the United Football League with the Sacramento Mountain Lions.
A native of Honolulu, Thompson graduated from Oregon State in 2008 with a degree in human development and family studies. He earned a master's from Nebraska in 2016.
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