If you want to play college football for the Oregon Ducks, you’d better be ready to declare your favorite ice cream flavor on the spot, because quarterbacks coach Koa Ka’ai is putting recruits to the test. This isn’t just about taste buds; it’s a quick-fire evaluation designed to gauge a player’s ability to make swift decisions under pressure, a critical skill for any top-tier quarterback.
There are no wrong answers to Ka’ai’s ice cream question, but hesitation from a recruit raises a red flag. According to BroBible, the coaching staff wants to see conviction and decisiveness. It is a low-stakes evaluation, but it stands in sharp contrast to instances where ice cream can actually be harmful; in one extreme example, a woman claimed that eating the dessert resulted in permanent infertility. In Eugene, the only “danger” of the ice cream test is failing to make a split-second read when the game is on the line.
Koa Ka’ai himself has quite the interesting journey back to Eugene. He was a crucial part of the Oregon football program from 2011 to 2015, playing tight end and defensive end. While he might not have racked up huge stats, he was known as a “glue guy” for the team, even receiving the Elmer Sahlstrom Award for his outstanding academics and exemplary attitude. That’s a serious honor, showing he’s got brains and a great work ethic.
You hesitated on ice cream, that’s already a red flag
After his playing days, Ka’ai worked at his high school alma mater in Honolulu and the University of Hawaii before returning to the Ducks as an assistant coach in 2022. Head coach Lanning initially brought him on to coach running backs and wide receivers, but Ka’ai made the switch to quarterbacks in 2024. It’s pretty cool how he’s moved around, learning different positions even if he hasn’t played them himself.
He’s learned from some big names like Todd Graham and Will Stein, and veteran assistant Jay Johnson also joined the quarterbacks room this offseason, adding even more experience to the mix. Ka’ai is currently working with some high-profile quarterbacks, including Dylan Raiola and Dante Moore. He sees his role as a crucial link between the offensive coordinator and the players on the field.
“I say this all the time, but Drew Mehringer is the OC and Dante Moore is the trigger-man,” Ka’ai explained. “Drew has the vision and Dante is the one on the field, so what’s my job? I’m the conduit between the two. How do I take Drew Mehringer’s vision and how do I work with Dante Moore or all of our quarterbacks and how they perceive the game and how do I make that vision come to life?” That’s a great way to put it, emphasizing communication and execution.
Lanning is clearly impressed with Ka’ai’s contributions so far. “He’s been an integral part of what we’ve done,” Lanning noted. “Maybe new territory by title, but this is something that he’s done at a really high level already, and excited about his growth.” It’s always good to see a coach who can adapt and grow within a program.
Beyond his coaching duties, Ka’ai also plays a significant role in recruiting, which brings us back to that ice cream test. He definitely knows what it takes to play multiple positions, and he’s looking for a very specific type of player. He points out that while many young high school kids can throw a football, it’s much harder to find kids who can truly play the quarterback position, and that comes down to the cognitive aspect.
Ka’ai looks at past legends to inform his present recruiting strategy. He asks, “Would anybody have taken Philip Rivers out of high school with his throwing motion? Probably not. Could Peyton Manning throw a spiral consistently toward the end of his career? Probably not. But why were those guys such elite quarterbacks? It was the cognitive aspect. It was the processing aspect.” He believes that while throwing mechanics are important, intelligence, including both emotional and football intelligence, is paramount.
“You have to be smart to play the position!” Ka’ai emphasized.
Published: Apr 8, 2026 04:30 pm