University of Connecticut Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Defensive Analyst
- Email:
- dyy25002@uconn.edu
Nate Atkins is in his second year at UConn and will fill the role of defensive analyst in 2026. He is primarily responsible for opponent pass protection analysis and opponent-specific pressure planning. He also assists in all aspects of coaching the defensive line and special teams instruction.
Prior to joining the Huskies, Atkins was the safeties coach with the Ball State Cardinals, assisting in implementing all aspects of game day preparations. He also served as the academic liaison for the team. In 2023, helped coach a Ball State defense that was 21st in the nation in total defense, 20th in rushing defense, 32nd in passing defense and 30th in third down defense.
He was previously at Ball State as a defensive graduate assistant in 2020 before begin promoted to defensive assistant with the defensive backs in 2021 and 2022. He would move on to coach at the University of Dayton for a short stint as linebackers and special teams coordinator before returning to Ball State in the spring of 2023. Atkins began his coaching career as a volunteer defensive assistant at his alma mater William & Mary in the spring of 2020.
Atkins graduated from William & Mary in 2019 with a degree in business administration and with a master’s degree in business analytics in 2020. He played for the Tribe and was a two-time captain and four-year starter, logging 44-consecutive starts. He was a five-time academic all-conference player and a 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy national semi-finalist. He also earned a master’s degree in athletic coaching education from Ball State in 2023.
