Tyler Sutton joined the San Diego State coaching staff on Jan. 10, 2025. He serves as the team’s defensive analyst.
Sutton comes to The Mesa after three seasons as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Idaho. He was also promoted to special teams coordinator prior to the 2024 season.
In his three years at Idaho, the Vandals made three FCS playoff appearances including back-to-back quarterfinal appearances the last two seasons. In his role as recruiting coordinator, Sutton helped the Vandals recruit a top-10 recruiting class in the FCS as ranked by 247Sports which included over 40 incoming freshmen.
Sutton began his coaching career at the University of San Diego where he was the offensive coordinator and running backs coach for his last two seasons. In his time with USD, Sutton was a part of six consecutive seasons of nine or more wins, eight conference championships, five FCS Playoffs appearances and two FCS playoff wins.
He rose through the ranks at USD where he started as a volunteer assistant in 2013. Sutton was named the running backs coach in 2014 and helped guide an explosive offense which ranked top ten nationally in both 2018 and 2019. Sutton mentored at least one all-conference running back in each season with the Toreros, including three seasons with multiple Torero running back selections, as well as the 2016 conference player of the year recipient and FCS All-American, Jonah Hodges.
He added the Special Teams Coordinator role in 2018. Under his direction, the Toreros were one of the most dominant units at the FCS level, producing back-to-back conference Special Teams Player of the Year recognitions (Michael Armstead, 2018; Tanner Kuljian, 2019). In 2019, the Toreros ranked among the FCS leaders in several categories, including second in punt returns and fifth in punt return yards allowed.
On top of his proven coaching credentials, Sutton brings experience recruiting the West Coast, especially in his home state of California.
He was selected to the prestigious 35 under 35 coaches in 2022.
Sutton played at the University of Redlands during 2005-08 before a stint as a high school coach. He returned to Redlands as a Defensive Line graduate assistant coach in 2011 before being promoted as the Special Teams Coordinator in 2012.
THE TYLER SUTTON FILE
Position: Defensive Analyst
Hometown: Pomona, Calif.
Education: University of Redlands (2008)
Family: Tyler and his wife Erin have a son, Brooks
CAREER IN FOOTBALL
AS A COACH
2025-present: San Diego State (defensive analyst)
2024: Idaho (special teams coordinator, tight ends)
2022-23: Idaho (recruiting coordinator, tight ends)
2020-21: San Diego (offensive coordinator, running backs)
2018-19: San Diego (special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator, running backs)
2014-17: San Diego (running backs)
2013: San Diego (volunteer offensive assistant coach)
2012: Redlands (special teams coordinator)
2011: Redlands (defensive line graduate assistant)
AS A PLAYER
2005-08: University of Redlands