Moimoi Embraces Community

Two years before Tevita Moimoi was born, his parents came to the United States from Tonga, an island with a population of just over one hundred thousand, which is close to Australia and Fiji.

One word to describe the country would be community.

"A lot of people are close together [in proximity]," said Moimoi. "That sense of family was the main theme growing up."

Now at Dartmouth, it's something Moimoi is living into every day.

"I'm just trying to spread that aspect, whether in football, in the classroom or in my fraternity," he said.

Not only were Moimoi's parents born in Tonga, but also were his three siblings. They immigrated to the United States in 2000.

"They came for their children and their main focus was education," said Moimoi. "They only went as far as a high school degree back on the islands, and they wanted more for us by immigrating here. My parents wanted us to go to college, whether that was by doing well in the classroom and/or playing sports because my dad was a huge rugby guy.

"Whatever way they could foster that capability of making it to college."
Tevita Moimoi ran for a career-high 82 yards against Yale, Oct. 7, 2023

Tevita Moimoi ran for a career-high 82 yards against Yale, Oct. 7, 2023

That has certainly happened for Tevita and his siblings, in the classroom and athletics.

"We've all gone to four-year colleges," he said. "Especially being here at an Ivy League institution, my parents have done more than enough to provide that opportunity for us."

Tevita has done his job as well. He is now a senior captain on a Division I football team, at an Ivy League institution that in many ways, is much like Tonga in its community feel.

"I had a few offers coming out of high school; I narrowed it down to the Air Force Academy, Harvard and here," said Moimoi. "Three schools where you can't go wrong with their education and football. I was looking closely to how I fit in with the players, the students, the coaching staff and anyone I met during my official visits."

Dartmouth truly "fit" for Moimoi.

"Hanover, being a small community and being isolated, I get that feeling from my island background as well," he said.

Moimoi may not have found his way to Dartmouth if he didn't play football, which he began playing in the second grade.

"I'll never forget, I got this phone call from a friend who left a voicemail saying I was pretty big for a second grader and should play football," he said. "The moment it started getting serious was probably when my sisters were playing volleyball in college and seeing my brother excel in high school."

Tevita thought if his siblings could do it, so could he.
Tevita Moimoi football action versus Yale

Tevita Moimoi football action versus Yale

"I got the benefit of realizing that early on, trying to be the best I could be to put myself in position to play in college," he said.

Moimoi was thrilled to commit to Dartmouth. Flash forward a few years, and never could he have imagined being a captain of the football team and president of his fraternity.

"I really just wanted to live in the moment," he said. "Being present in the moment, I can maximize the most of whatever I'm doing, whether it's in the weight room or socializing with friends and maximizing that time."

Moimoi has helped the Big Green stay in the moment during some challenging times. Last March, teammate Josh Balara '24 passed away from cancer. Also last March, Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach Buddy Teevens was involved in a serious bicycle accident and after six months, died in September.

"The loss of two very important people in our community has not only made us recognize their contributions and what they've contributed to our own personal relationships, but also highlights that time is moving," said Moimoi.

"And as Coach T always said, A and I."

A and I stood for adjust and improvise.

"We've had to do that a lot the past year," said Moimoi. "Not everything will go our way in a game or in life, so we have to adjust, improvise and find a way forward."

Moimoi moves forward with a love of life that is infectious, which in many ways, goes back to his Tongan heritage.

"Tevita has developed into a consummate leader for us through hard work, expressive energy and genuine concern for others," said running backs coach Danny O'Dea. "The staff sees Tevita as a leader who can identify and relate to everyone on the team. The offseason work, his positive attitude, and his desire to be a part of something greater than himself draws all of us to him."

Individually, Moimoi likes to focus on the little things, which lead to a more collective, broader impact.

"I believe I can drive myself even farther by pushing others," he said.

Moimoi has certainly made his mark on the football field. He is up to 129 rush yards this season, which includes 82 yards against Yale and a 9-yard, game-tying touchdown run at Colgate last week, coming in his first of the season.

"There are so many roles to be played within a football team and everyone plays a part in our success," said O'Dea. "Tevita is no exception here, and he does it with a smile at all times — even when he is putting others on their backs. Tevita has been an integral part of our special teams, like last year's blocked punt recovery at Columbia, to kickoff returns and punt this year.

All Robert Crockett III does is make plays. This week, it's a clean punt block, and Tevita Moimoi recovers for the touchdown and a 24-9 Big Green lead!

Watch on @ESPNPlus: https://t.co/9BRmq3msuB pic.twitter.com/zuQFPb3CEU
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) October 22, 2022

]"He is always doing his job, and doing it correctly and well," O'Dea continued. "All of those small steps create an amazing team player."

For the success he has enjoyed, Moimoi also leans on others to help him.

"I believe that's where my leadership comes on," he said. "It's not just me moving forward. It's not just a teammate moving forward, but we're all moving forward."

Moimoi's message of how to move forward is to maximize the present moment.

"Having that as a foundation will help us in those little moments in practice when we might feel tired," he said. "We've lost so much to let feeling tired in a practice get in the way of working hard for Coach T and Josh."

Moimoi works hard in everything he does, including in the classroom where he is a film and media studies major.

"We grew up in the world of technology, looking around in my environment and getting in touch with technology, media and everything like that," he said. "Dartmouth has a pretty strong department of film here, so that really re-energized my interest [in the area of film and media]."

Moimoi loves what he gets to do every day. Each day is a clean slate.

"Every day, there's an opportunity to improve on something you didn't do as well yesterday," he said. "You can choose to dwell about something you messed up yesterday, or you can take that as a learning moment and apply that to today.

"Not a lot of us are aware that we're given another chance every day."

Moimoi attacks every day with a hard-working and easy-going approach that goes back to his Tongan roots. Tonga is a place he hasn't visited since 2012, but still has family there.

"We're super relaxed," he said. "That definitely helps when something doesn't go our way; we're not too stressed about it, but we recognize what we need to do in order to move forward."

Fellow Big Green captain, quarterback Nick Howard, called Moimoi "the definition of a Dartmouth man."
Tevita Moimoi competing against Lehigh Football

Tevita Moimoi competing against Lehigh Football

"Tevita embodies community as he is not only friendly and courteous to everyone, but he also takes time to get to know everyone he interacts with," said Howard. "He is genuine, cares about his teammates and holds everyone to an extremely high standard."

Moimoi knows he wouldn't be where he is today, impacting everyone around him at Dartmouth, if it wasn't for his family.

"Being the youngest, I'm very lucky to have my siblings and my parents pave the path," he said. "I've been able to foster those values I've learned from childhood and share them here."

Moimoi has left a lasting legacy with the Dartmouth community, well beyond just the football team.

"Tevita is one of the best people I've met in my time at Dartmouth," said Howard.

"He does a fantastic job of representing everything Coach Teevens wanted his players to be."

Schedules

Players Mentioned

Robert Crockett III

Nick Howard

Tevita Moimoi

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Schedules

Upcoming Event: Football at Lehigh on September 19, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus Monmouth on September 26, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus Penn on October 3, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football at Yale on October 10, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football versus Merrimack on October 17, 2026

Upcoming Event: Football at Columbia on October 24, 2026