Koa Naotala never set out to chase individual honors. Yet at Old Dominion, the linebacker has become a three-time team captain—something that hasn’t happened since Taylor Heinicke wore the same distinction. For Koa, the honor isn’t about status. It’s a reflection of how his teammates see him and the standard he tries to uphold every day.
“It’s a blessing,” Naotala said. “The first time I got voted as team captain, to me that felt like that was probably one of the most rewarding moments in my football career. Above any accolade to me, just being voted on as captain by my teammates, that just meant a lot to me.”
That humility defines him. For Naotala, leadership comes down to serving others and giving credit where he believes it’s due.
“Being able to do that for the third time, man, I can just give all glory to God because it’s not me, it’s God working through me.”
Naotala’s journey hasn’t been without adversity. Last season, injuries threatened to derail everything he’d worked for. He was injured in fall camp, fought to return for Virginia Tech, and then suffered another setback. Many players would have folded. Koa found perspective.
“There were definitely some difficult times in there,” he said. “Just trying to play, coming back from an injury in fall camp and being hyped for that, and being excited for the season to suffering another injury, knowing I’d be out a couple of games, but I’d be back, and trying to push myself to be back for Tech just to be hurt again. It was definitely not a good feeling in thinking that the work that I put in had in a way failed.”
Instead of dwelling on disappointment, he chose gratitude.
“When you focus too much on your circumstances, that can lead to your downfall. So instead of looking at last year as a year that was not so great, I always look at it as, man, what a blessing. What a blessing to see my team go 10-3. What a blessing to see my brother start and play all the games and be able to ball out. And just a blessing to see what the team can do. You know, without me, I’m not necessarily needed, but I’m definitely blessed to be a part of this team.”
Ask Naotala about how he’s reached this point, and he’ll tell you it’s about relentless work and an unwavering mindset.
“Just being relentless,” he said. “Even if you don’t see the immediate reward right now, you just have to keep pushing.”
His approach is simple but powerful: stay grateful, keep faith, and keep working. “One thing I’ve always thought about is just that when you focus too much on your circumstances, that can lead to your downfall. And so just knowing and recognizing and being grateful for the many blessings you already have. Just keeping that in mind and keep working even though you don’t see the immediate reward, the blessings will come.”
That outlook has carried him through every obstacle and helped him lead by example in the locker room.
After a season of watching from the sideline, Naotala returned to spring ball and fall camp determined to prove to himself that he could still play at the level he expects. “Having to play football during spring ball and fall camp has definitely built my confidence,” he said. “Being out for a while, not being able to see what I can do currently. You can always look back at old film and know that, yeah, I used to do that, but that’s not who I am anymore.”
So he went back to work—no shortcuts, no excuses. “Just building up from that and knowing that I just have to keep pushing myself and keep putting in that same work that I had put in before. Not being complacent in what I used to be, just working hard to get back up to where I can ball out with full confidence in my abilities.”
As the Monarchs prepare for the new season, Naotala is confident in the defense’s identity. “Playing fast, playing tough, and playing disciplined,” he said. “I’d say that third part is key—playing discipline. Being able to do your job over and over and over and over and over again. I think that’s what makes a great player and a great team, just being able to do your job consistently.”
For Naotala, it all comes back to the same principles that have guided him as a captain: faith, gratitude, and doing the little things right every single day. That’s the example he sets—and why his teammates keep choosing him to lead."