Ukoh Essang - Football Coach

Ukoh Essang

Title:
Defensive Analyst, Defensive Line
Alma Mater:
Northeastern State, ’19 / Pittsburg State, ‘22
Year at UCLA:
1st in 2026
Email:
uessang@athletics.ucla.edu

Ukoh Essang enters his first season as a defensive analyst working with the defensive line at UCLA in 2026.

Essang arrives in Westwood after spending the 2024 and 2025 seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at James Madison. JMU’s 2025 defense ranked fifth in FBS with 266.6 yards allowed per game and 13th with 18.4 points allowed per game. The Dukes were also sixth in the country in third down defense (29.4%), 10th in defensive touchdowns (3), 28th in sacks per game (2.57) and 33rd in tackles for loss per game (6.2).

During Essang's first season at James Madison in 2024, the Dukes led the nation in turnover margin (1.54) and ranked third in takeaways (29), fifth in defensive touchdowns (four) and sixth in sacks per game (3.15). The D-line alone led the country in interceptions for the position group, as four different linemen recorded an interception. Essang’s unit produced a pair of defensive touchdowns on pick-sixes while also tallying 49.5 tackles for loss, 30.0 sacks, 12 breakups, three fumble recoveries and a pair of forced fumbles.

Defensive linemen Eric O'Neill and Khairi Manns highlighted the group, both earning All-America honors. O’Neill registered 18.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks while Manns added 12.5 TFLs and 9.0 sacks. As a whole, JMU’s defensive line produced a pair of defensive touchdowns on pick-sixes while also tallying 49.5 tackles for loss, 30.0 sacks, 12 breakups, three fumble recoveries and a pair of forced fumbles.

Essang joined the Dukes after spending the 2023 season in the same role at Buffalo. The Bulls led the Mid-American Conference in forced fumbles and pass defense while being second in third-down defense, fewest first downs allowed and interceptions and third in scoring defense.

Prior to Buffalo, Essang was a defensive graduate assistant at NCAA Division II Pittsburg State in Kansas from 2021-22, primarily assisting with the linebackers.

Essang was a defensive end at Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he played in 34 games from 2015-19. A team captain, Essang earned All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association honors in 2019. He finished his career with 11.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

After graduating from Northeastern State, he spent Spring 2020 as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant at his alma mater.

A native of Arlington, Texas, Essang earned a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance from Northeastern State in December 2019. He also received a master’s degree in health, human performance and recreation from Pittsburg State in 2022.

Essang’s Coaching Experience
2020 – Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant, Northeastern State (NCAA DII)
2021, 2022 – Defensive Graduate Assistant, Pittburg State (NCAA DII)
2023 – Defensive Graduate Assistant, Buffalo
2024, 2025 – Defensive Graduate Assistant, James Madison
2026 – Defensive Analyst (Defensive Line), UCLA