Aitaoto ‘Ace’ Salu- Founder/ Advisor
Ace is the founder of the Pacific Islands Community of Oregon (PICO), a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide leadership and supports to the Pasifika communities in Oregon. He is also the founder of the PICO Instructional Football Camp, in which sport is used to teach and educate our youth to become young men and women of substances. Moreover, to teach our children the importance of culture and traditions and to be proud of their heritage.
A three sports athlete in high school, football, basketball, and boxing, he played football for Portland State University in the late 1980s under the late football great and coach Pokey Allen. He was a member of the 1988 PSU Football Team, a national runner-up recently inducted into the Portland State Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
Ace holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice. He is currently a case manager for Columbia River Mental Health Services Substance Use and Disorder Unit and a life-licensed agent for Primerica Financial Service. Ace’s career spanned over thirty years in the social service field, helping and serving his community. He married Paula and had three children, Nate, TJ, and Malakai.
Favorite Quote:
You have something special! You have greatness in you!
– Les Brown
Tafito Salu- Co-Founder/ Quality Control
Tafiko, known to many as V, is the PICO Instructional Football Camp co-founder, and is currently the defensive coordinator for Cleveland High School. He spent much of his career coaching and mentoring high school athletes as a football coach.
In 2009, he began his career as a defensive linemen coach for Roosevelt High School; In 2013, holds the same position at Grant High School, 2015 Reynolds High school, and became a Defensive coordinator in 2017 for Benson High School. He is currently a defensive linemen coach at Evergreen High School.
A two-sport athlete in high school; boxing and wrestling; in 1987, he won the bronze medal in freestyle wrestling on Island, and in 2000 with a brief stint at Portland State, he was voted Most Valuable Player as a Defensive lineman player for the Portland Thunderbolts Semi Pro Team , earning him a tryout for the San Jose Sabercats Arena Football.
As a military veteran, he is currently a Juvenile Custody Specialist for the Multnomah County Juvenile and Adult Correction for over twenty-five years. Vee has three daughters Malia, Mya, and Alexa.
Favorite Quote:
The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare.
– Bear Bryant
Fa’asaoina Talalemotu, Co-Founder- Advisor
Ina’s passion for football and helping shape young lives became his calling, translating into a free football camp that gives back to the community. In PICO’s early years, Ina helped teach and mentor young lives that went on to tremendous college careers and those that excelled in school and life. Ina and Ace founded the 1st PICO Big Man Camp at Duniway Park in 2011, followed by a successful college tour at Portland State University.
Ina graduated from Fagaitua High School in 1985 and went to Yakima Valley Community College. Highly recruited out of Junior College, Ina helped anchor the 1987-88 Portland State Vikings National runner-up team as a Defensive-Nose Tackle.
The 1987-88 Football Team was recently inducted into the Portland State University Hall of Fame in 2018. Ina holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and works as a Juvenile Custody Specialist for Multnomah County Juvenile and Adult Correction. Ina is married to Megan and has three children Kiuga, Mataio, and Lola.
Favorite Quote:
C’mon, man!
– Ina
Timothy “TJ” Salu- Camp Director
TJ is an alumnus of Central Catholic High School. He helped the Rams with two back-to-back state championships in 2013 and 2014.
He was voted team captain in 2014, earned 1st Team All-State and 1st Team All-Mount Hood Conference, 2015 National Football Scholarship Foundation Recipient and was named to the Polynesian All-American Bowl the same year.
TJ received a full-ride scholarship to the Naval Academy and played for the Legendary Coach, Ken Niumatalolo. TJ received the Cooke Award in his senior year for his leadership and Team spirit.
TJ has a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and is currently serving as a METOC officer in Coronado, San Diego.
Favorite Quote:
Our greatest glory is not in never failing but rising every time we fall.
– Confucius
Nate Salu- Director of Player Personnel
Nate is a graduate of Central Catholic High School in 2013, where he lettered in football three times and basketball once, earning Honorable Mention All-Conference in his senior year.
Nate went on to obtain his a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, while continuing to play football for Portland State University from 2014-2017 as safety and later moved to Linebacker in his final year when Portland State last appeared in the playoffs.
Today Nate works for Alaska Airlines and has coached for Rex Putnam High School for two seasons.
Favorite Quote:
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
– C.S Lewis
Malakai Salu- Director of Recruiting
Malakai Salu was a 2018 graduate of Central Catholic High School. As a three-year letter-winner under coach Steve Pyne, he helped the Rams reach the state championship as runner-up finishes his junior year. As a senior, his performance earned him Mt. Hood Conference Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-State, and All-Conference.
In addition, he was selected as a Polynesian All-American. Academically, he was recognized as a National Football Foundation Scholarship recipient in 2017.
He continued his collegiate career at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) on a full-ride athletic scholarship. He played for four years and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 2022.
Favorite Quote:
“I’ve heard that tune many times, but I’m still dancing”
-Ted Lasso
JJ Johnson- QB Coach
JJ is currently a Wide Receiver Coach at Lewis and Clark College. He has twelve years of Coaching in High School and College.
Before joining the Lewis and Clark staff in 2022, JJ was a wide receiver coach at Clackamas High School and helped them to their first championship State title in 2017.
JJ was named Gatorade Player of the Year in 2003 from Central Catholic High School and continued his collegiate career at Foothill Junior College. He works for Frontier Middle School in Vancouver, Washington, where he is the head basketball coach.
Riley Peterson- Wide Receiver Coach
Riley Peterson is an up-and-coming freshman at Linfield College looking to make a big splash in his second year.
He started his career at Lasalle and transferred to Clackamas High School, where he was named 2nd Team All-State.
Riley comes from an athletic family where his father, Mike Peterson, played football at Portland State in the late 80s and was a coach at PICO Camp in their early years.
Kitan Oladapo – Cornerback and Safeties Coach
Kitan Oladapo was a 2018 graduate of Central Catholic High School. As a three-year letterwinner under coach Steve Pyne, he helped the Rams reach the state championship as runner-up finishers his junior year.
During his tenure, he earned first-team and second-team honors, as well as all-state. Kitan continued his career at Oregon State University where he excelled on the field, earning himself All-Pac 12 honorable mention in 2021. He followed that up with a dominant junior season, earning himself Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week twice (career high 17 tkls in the Civil War), finishing his 2022 season with Associated Press All-Pac-12 First Team, All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention, PFF All-Pac-12 First Team, and Phil Steele All-Pac-12 Fourth Team.
He elected to stay his senior year instead of declaring for the NFL draft, where he plans to graduate with a degree in Design and Innovation Management in the Spring of 2023. Kitan is the son of Funke and Akin Oladapo. He has one younger brother, Kash and one older sister, Anjola.
Bryce Jackson – Safeties Coach
Bryce Jackson was a 2018 graduate of Chandler High School out of Arizona. As a four-year letterwinner under coach Shaun Aguano he helped the Wolves to a 24-5 record and 6A State Championships the last three seasons. He finished the 2017 season with 34 solo tackles, 81 total tackles, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
He was named Big 25 All-State Defensive Flex Player of the Year in addition to earning all-conference first-team honors and the Wolves’ Defensive Player of the Year award. He continued his career at University of Nevada Las Vegas where he played all four years, leading the team in tackles in the 2020 season and was a member of the Academic All Mountain West Team 3 years in a row.
Bryce graduated with a degree in kinesiology in 2022. With an extra year of eligibility, he transferred to New Mexico State University, becoming an immediate impact and leader earning himself Pro Football Focus Team of the Week (2022 Week 0 vs. Nevada) and 2022 College Football Network Second Team All-Independent. Bryce resides in Chandler, Arizona where he is training for the 2023 NFL Draft. Bryce is the son of Kim and Myles Jackson. He has an older sister, Bria and a younger brother, Bryant.
Cameron Scarlett – Running Backs Coach
Cameron Scarlett was a 2015 graduate out of Central Catholic High School. As a 4 year letterwinner under coach Steve Pyne, he helped the Rams to two back-to-back state titles in 2013 and 2014. To this day, Cameron is still one of the Rams most highly decorated running backs to come out of the school, with a career of 4,831 all purpose yards and 54 touchdowns, as well as being ranked #18 best running backs in the nation by ESPN.
He continued his career at Stanford University where he played for four seasons and excelled. Cameron was a two-time Pac-12 All-Academic, second team (2017), honorable mention (2018), 2017 All-Pac-12 honorable mention. He finished his career with 1,676 rushing yards, 18th-most in school history and tied for eighth in school history with 24 rushing touchdowns. He graduated with a degree in science, technology, and society, as well as earning a masters in Media Studies.
After college, Cameron was signed by the Tennessee Titans in the NFL and then later was picked up by the Seattle Seahawks. In March of 2022, he was drafted by the Michigan Panthers of the USFL. Cameron is the son of Paul and Suzy Scarlett and has one older brother, Brennan, and one younger sister, Bella.
Randin Crecelius- Offensive Linemen Coach
Randin Crecelius was a 2014 graduate out of Cascade High School. As a three-year letterwinner he was named first team All-Wesco League as an offensive and defensive lineman and second team All-Wesco as a sophomore.
He continued his career at Portland State where the injury bug forced Randin into the fire as a true freshman, where he stepped up being named honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference in 2015 and third team All-Big Sky Conference in 2016.
Randin was signed by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 where he was on the practice squad for two seasons before injuries prevented him from playing. Randin is the son of Michael and Traci Crecelius and has one older sister, Chelsie.
Cam Sommer – Tight Ends Coach
Cam Sommer was a 2012 graduate out of Gladstone High School. As a four-year letter winner in football and track. He earned first team All-State as a defensive lineman and a tight end at the Class 4A level, first team All-Tri-Valley League as a defensive lineman and tight end for two seasons, second team as a sophomore and was named Defensive Player of the Year as a senior and second team All-State defensive end and tight end as a junior.
He continued his career at Portland State University where he played for four seasons and graduated with a bachelor degree in accounting and finance. Cam returned back to his alma mater in 2019 to become the head coach of Gladstone High School football. Cam is the son of Doug and Barbara Sommer and has one brother, Carl, and one sister, Stephanie.
Toloumu “Tolo” Tuitele – Linebacker Coach
Toloumu “Tolo” Tuitele grew up in Carson, California, and went to Pacific High School in San Bernardino, CA, where he was a standout three-sport athlete – Football, basketball, and track. Tolo was a linebacker and quarterback who rushed for 1,500 yards and led the league in tackles in a single season.
But injuries would cripple his high school career and force him to play only one year of high school. So, after years of floating around, Tolo found a home at Portland State University, where he would become a star defensive player at middle linebacker for the Vikings. He would earn All-Conference honors and a pair of National Player of the Week awards (vs. Nichols State & North Carolina A&T). He has 307 tackles in his career.
Tolo earned a Bachelor’s degree in graphic design and has worked as a Digital Designer for the past twelve years. He is a board member and coach for a non-profit organization called Northwest Legends. In addition, he volunteers his free time by coaching youth sports throughout the Southeast Portland area. He is currently the Defensive Coordinator at Gresham High School, where his number one fans are his family – wife Kat and kids Ula, Siva, and Ina.
Zach Ka’ahanui – Defensive Lineman Coach
Zach was a 2009 graduate from Central Catholic High School and was a 4 year letterwinner under coach Steve Pyne. During his tenure, he was a 4-time All Mt. Hood conference selection, three times being first team and earned first team all-state as both an offensive and defensive lineman. He also participated in the Les Schwab All-Star Game.
After his high school career, Zach attended Northern Arizona University where he played for two seasons and then later transferred to Portland State University where he finished his career. He graduated with a degree in Business Administration and is currently working as an Account Executive at UnitedHealth Group. He’s married to his wife, Aubrey Ka’ahanui, and has a daughter and a son, Avayah and Kahua.
Troy Reddick- Offensive Linemen- Run Game Coordinator
Troy Reddick is an Offensive Line Specialist with a wealth of experience in the physically dominant SEC West division of football. As a lifelong offensive lineman, he credits his success to helping those around him achieve their goals. In high school, he was a three-sport letterman and two-way starter on the football team, earning numerous accolades. He attended Auburn University, starting 40 games and winning an SEC championship and Sugar Bowl victory.
Troy trained with top S&C coaches and played professionally for several teams, including the San Jose Sabercats, with whom he won the Arena Bowl Championship. He is passionate about coaching and has worked with raw talent to help them achieve their goals. Despite suffering a potentially career-ending injury, Troy proved his resilience by returning to the Arizona Rattlers in 2010.
