University of Connecticut Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach Defensive Coordinator
- Email:
- football@uconn.edu
Assistant Coach Matt Brock will begin his second season as UConn's defensive coordinator in 2025. UConn head football coach Jim Mora announced the hiring Brock as the Huskies new defensive coordinator in the spring of 2024 after four seasons at Mississippi State.
In his first season in Storrs, Brock instituted a new 3-3-5 scheme, and the Huskies saw defensive improvements all over the field. UConn was among the nation’s best in third down defense in 2024, ranking fourth (.297). The Huskies allowed opponents 23.1 points per game, 132.3 yards rushing per game and 347.4 yards of offense, all in the top 50 among NCAA leaders.
Brock was elevated to defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs for the 2023 season after handling defensive play calling duties in MSU’s bowl win over Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl. He was hired by MSU in 2020 as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach, and rose to coach the full linebacker group in 2022.
In his first season as the team’s coordinator in 2023, the Bulldogs ranked sixth in the SEC in total defense (350.6) in total defense and were fifth in passing defense (204.7). The Bulldog defense featured the two top tacklers in the SEC in linebackers Nathanial Watson (137 tkls) and Jett Johnson (130 tkls).
In 2022, the duo of Watson and Johnson anchored the defense as well, finishing 1-2 in total tackles in the SEC while the team ranked fifth in the SEC in total defense (344.5), fifth in rushing defense (134.2) and second in turnovers gained (23). The 2021 Bulldogs ranked third in total defense (352.3) and led the SEC in fewest first downs allowed (219), while ranking fifth in the league total defense (389.7), fifth in yards per play allowed (5.5) and third in rushing touchdowns allowed (11) in 2020.
Prior to his stint at MSU, Brock spent two seasons at Washington State as the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach.Â
He was in the same role as a special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Bowling Green in 2016 and 2017. After the 2017 season, Brock was a nominee for the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in the country after his special teams units ranked among the nation’s top 20 in net punting average (4th), kickoff return defense (3rd) and punt return defense (20th). In his first season at Bowling Green, Brock’s special teams unit led the nation in kickoff defense, ranked third in net punting average and finished 28th in punt return defense.Â
He spent three seasons (2013-15) at Texas Tech where he served as a defensive quality control coach as well as stints coaching the defensive line and linebackers. Brock arrived in Lubbock following two seasons at his alma mater Baker University (2011-12), where he served as a graduate assistant coach, oversaw the team’s linebackers and assisted defensive coordinator Jason Thoren in the coaches’ booth on game day.
Brock was a linebacker during his collegiate playing career at Baker. He tallied 277 career tackles and seven interceptions while leading the league in total tackles and tackles per game in 2010.
A 2009 and 2010 all-conference selection, Brock was a two-time Academic All-American and earned several team most valuable player awards. He graduated from Baker in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.
