Directly computing Feed Forward Equalizer (FFE) coefficients and Feed Back Equalizer (FBE) coefficients of a Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) from a channel estimate. The FBE coefficients have an energy constraint. A recursive least squares problem is formulated based upon the DFE configuration, the channel estimate, and the FBE energy constraint. The recursive least squares problem is solved to yield the FFE coefficients. The FFE coefficients are convolved with a convolution matrix that is based upon the channel estimate to yield the FBE coefficients. A solution to the recursive least squares problem is interpreted as a Kalman gain vector. A Kalman gain vector solution to the recursive least squares problem may be determined using a Fast Transversal Filter (FTF) algorithm.