SAN DIEGO – Kurt Mattix, who worked with San Diego State football head coach Brady Hoke at Michigan, has been named the Aztecs' defensive coordinator, Hoke announced today. Mattix will also coach the SDSU linebackers.
Mattix comes to The Mesa after serving as the defensive coordinator at Eastern Kentucky the past four seasons. Since 2016, the Colonels have ranked 24th in FCS play in defensive pass efficiency (120.4), 36th in defensive rush avg. (4.0) and 38th in total defense (360.9).
"Kurt was on our staff at Michigan and is an unbelievable football coach," Hoke said. "He's one of those guys that loves the game and loves the interaction with the players, but will hold them accountable. He has a tremendous football mind and really loves the details of the game."
"I couldn't be more excited, not only to be here at San Diego State, but to look to continue the great tradition they have had here the last 10 years," Mattix said. "The opportunity to work with Coach Hoke again is something I'm really looking forward to. I'm honored and extremely excited to get to work."
EKU was particularly impressive on defense over the last two seasons, ranking as one of the top defensive units in the Ohio Valley Conference.
The 2019 EKU defense led the OVC in third down percentage (.310, 5th in FCS), fourth down percentage (.333, 7th in FCS), red zone percentage (.700, 11th in FCS), tackles for loss per game (7.9, 13th in FCS) and first downs allowed (205, 18th in FCS), while ranking second in scoring defense (20.6, 15th in FCS), rush defense (119.1, 15th in FCS) and total defense (325.3, 16th in FCS).
The Colonels held their opponents to under 100 yards rushing six times during the 2019 season, including just two yards against Tennessee Tech and 22 yards against Murray State.
Under his guidance, Aaron Patrick was selected as the 2019 OVC Defensive Player of the Year, was a first team All-American and a finalist for the national defensive player of the year award. Patrick and Taquan Evans also earned all-conference recognition.
In 2018, Mattix's defense helped the Colonels finish 7-4 and in third place in the OVC. EKU ranked second in the league in scoring defense and third in total defense. Eastern Kentucky also finished fifth in the nation with 19 interceptions, 12 more than the team recorded in 2017.
Three defensive players picked up All-OVC honors at the end of the season - Leodis Moore III (first team), Patrick (first team) and Cornelius Floyd (second team), while three were earned OVC Defensive Player of the Week honors during the 2018 campaign.
In his first season in 2016, Mattix led a defense that allowed fewer passing yards than any EKU team since 2009 and fewer passing touchdowns (12) than any Colonel defense since 2005 (9). The EKU defense led the OVC and was sixth in the country with 13 fumbles recovered. The Colonels were also 16th in the nation with three defensive touchdowns and 25th with 23 forced turnovers.
Patrick earned first team all-conference honors and was chosen as a Hero Sports Sophomore All-American, ranking second in the OVC with 0.64 sacks per game. Jeffrey Canady totaled 17 tackles in a game on two occasions, tied for the 18th most by an FCS player in 2016.
The defense improved in Mattix's second season in 2017, allowing 62 fewer yards and 4.0 fewer points per game. Additionally, the Colonels allowed 571 fewer rushing yards and 112 fewer yards, while ranking first in the league and eighth in FCS with 13 fumbles recovered.
In 2017, Luder Jean Louis and Kobie Grace each garnered second-team All-OVC recognition. Jean Louis led the OVC and was ninth in the country in sacks, and ranked second in the OVC and 16th in FCS in tackles for a loss. Grace, meanwhile, led the nation in fumbles recovered, and was second in the league and 18th nationally in fumbles forced.
Prior to Eastern Kentucky, Mattix was the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at his alma mater Valparaiso University during the 2015 season.
Mattix went to Valparaiso after spending four seasons (2011-14) as the defensive quality control coach at Michigan under the tutelage of Brady Hoke, where he worked with the defensive line and linebackers, and assisted in all aspects of special teams.
In 2009 and 2010, Mattix coached the tight ends at Ball State.
Mattix has also been a defensive coordinator at Saint Joseph's College (2008) and Wayne State (2005-07), and had stints at Ball State (2002-03 as a graduate assistant), Anderson University (2001 as special teams coordinator), Tri-State University (2000 as special teams coordinator) and at Portage High School (1998-99 as the offensive line and defensive line coach).
Mattix earned his bachelor's degree at Valparaiso in 1999, where he played football for the Crusaders.