Eric Mathies Named Mean Green DL Coach
2/12/2020 1:00:00 PM | Football
DENTON – Eric Mathies has been named North Texas' defensive line coach, head football coach Seth Littrell announced Wednesday. Mathies most recently spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons in the same role at Florida Atlantic.
"I'm really looking forward to bringing Coach Mathies into the fold," Littrell said. "His experience as a strong recruiter and his ability to develop players are going to help us immediately. He's also someone who is very familiar with Coach [Clint] Bowen's philosophy from their time together at Western Kentucky, as well as the Conference USA landscape, and I can't wait to bring him into our culture here in Denton."
In addition to his role as defensive line coach at FAU, Mathies was elevated to the team's recruiting coordinator at the conclusion of spring ball in 2017. In 2018, the Owls recorded 23 sacks. In 2017, his position group was integral in the Owls climbing to a national rank of No. 24 in sacks, a 57-spot improvement from the previous season. The unit's work paid off with each starter on the Owls' line earning Conference USA Honorable Mention recognition. Both ends in Hunter Snyder and freshman Leighton McCarthy were honored, while on the inside junior Steven Leggett and graduate transfer Jeremiah Taleni were also recognized. The quartet tallied 17 of the team's 38 sacks, while other members of the defensive line added another 10.5.
Prior to his arrival in Boca Raton, Mathies was on South Florida's staff from 2013-16. Mathies joined the USF's football staff as defensive line coach in January of 2013 and added the duties of recruiting coordinator to his plate in 2016. Mathies helped guide USF's defensive end Eric Lee to Second Team All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2015 as Lee led the Bulls with 12.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. USF ranked No. 13 nationally in tackles for loss (7.5 per game), led the AAC while ranking No. 26 nationally in sacks (2.62 per game), and was third in the conference and No. 31 nationally against the run (141.4 yards per game).
In his first season at USF, Mathies guided a strong defensive line that helped the Bulls earn a No. 12 FBS rank in 7.6 tackles for loss per game and No. 21 rank in total defense allowing 350.8 yards per game, while nearly tripling the forced turnovers from nine the previous season to 25, and scoring three defensive touchdowns. Mathies helped guide sophomore defensive end Aaron Lynch to First Team All-AAC honors, after leading the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and six sacks, and senior defensive tackle Luke Sager to Second Team honors after a career-best 11.5 tackles for loss.
Prior to joining USF, Mathies coached the defensive line for eight seasons at WKU and served as recruiting coordinator for three seasons. He joined the WKU staff in 2005, and Mathies added the title of recruiting coordinator in 2010, a season he spent with current Mean Green defensive coordinator Clint Bowen, who served in the same role with the Hilltoppers that season.
As recruiting coordinator, Mathies helped produce the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference in both 2010 and 2011, and the league's second-ranked class in 2012, according to Rivals.com. Rivals and Scout also recognized Mathies as the Sun Belt Recruiter of the Year, while Scout named him one of the top recruiters in the nation following the 2010 season.
While coaching the defensive line, Mathies mentored Quanterus Smith, who earned All-America honors from both SI.com and Phil Steele after the 2012 season. Smith was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year after totaling 12.5 sacks, which ranked third nationally. As a whole, the WKU defense led the conference in sacks, TFL, total defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense in 2012.
Mathies coached two seasons at Tennessee State, where he worked with defensive tackles in addition to handling recruiting responsibilities.
Prior to working at TSU, he was the defensive line coach at Midwestern (Texas) State, where he was also the strength and conditioning coach, in addition to handling recruiting duties.
Mathies, who earned his bachelor's degree from Murray State in 1998, was a four-year letterwinner in football. He began his career at Kansas before transferring to Murray State. A defensive lineman, he helped the Racers to a pair of Ohio Valley Conference championships as MSU qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in both 1995 and '96.
"I'm really looking forward to bringing Coach Mathies into the fold," Littrell said. "His experience as a strong recruiter and his ability to develop players are going to help us immediately. He's also someone who is very familiar with Coach [Clint] Bowen's philosophy from their time together at Western Kentucky, as well as the Conference USA landscape, and I can't wait to bring him into our culture here in Denton."
In addition to his role as defensive line coach at FAU, Mathies was elevated to the team's recruiting coordinator at the conclusion of spring ball in 2017. In 2018, the Owls recorded 23 sacks. In 2017, his position group was integral in the Owls climbing to a national rank of No. 24 in sacks, a 57-spot improvement from the previous season. The unit's work paid off with each starter on the Owls' line earning Conference USA Honorable Mention recognition. Both ends in Hunter Snyder and freshman Leighton McCarthy were honored, while on the inside junior Steven Leggett and graduate transfer Jeremiah Taleni were also recognized. The quartet tallied 17 of the team's 38 sacks, while other members of the defensive line added another 10.5.
Prior to his arrival in Boca Raton, Mathies was on South Florida's staff from 2013-16. Mathies joined the USF's football staff as defensive line coach in January of 2013 and added the duties of recruiting coordinator to his plate in 2016. Mathies helped guide USF's defensive end Eric Lee to Second Team All-American Athletic Conference honors in 2015 as Lee led the Bulls with 12.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. USF ranked No. 13 nationally in tackles for loss (7.5 per game), led the AAC while ranking No. 26 nationally in sacks (2.62 per game), and was third in the conference and No. 31 nationally against the run (141.4 yards per game).
In his first season at USF, Mathies guided a strong defensive line that helped the Bulls earn a No. 12 FBS rank in 7.6 tackles for loss per game and No. 21 rank in total defense allowing 350.8 yards per game, while nearly tripling the forced turnovers from nine the previous season to 25, and scoring three defensive touchdowns. Mathies helped guide sophomore defensive end Aaron Lynch to First Team All-AAC honors, after leading the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and six sacks, and senior defensive tackle Luke Sager to Second Team honors after a career-best 11.5 tackles for loss.
Prior to joining USF, Mathies coached the defensive line for eight seasons at WKU and served as recruiting coordinator for three seasons. He joined the WKU staff in 2005, and Mathies added the title of recruiting coordinator in 2010, a season he spent with current Mean Green defensive coordinator Clint Bowen, who served in the same role with the Hilltoppers that season.
As recruiting coordinator, Mathies helped produce the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference in both 2010 and 2011, and the league's second-ranked class in 2012, according to Rivals.com. Rivals and Scout also recognized Mathies as the Sun Belt Recruiter of the Year, while Scout named him one of the top recruiters in the nation following the 2010 season.
While coaching the defensive line, Mathies mentored Quanterus Smith, who earned All-America honors from both SI.com and Phil Steele after the 2012 season. Smith was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year after totaling 12.5 sacks, which ranked third nationally. As a whole, the WKU defense led the conference in sacks, TFL, total defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense in 2012.
Mathies coached two seasons at Tennessee State, where he worked with defensive tackles in addition to handling recruiting responsibilities.
Prior to working at TSU, he was the defensive line coach at Midwestern (Texas) State, where he was also the strength and conditioning coach, in addition to handling recruiting duties.
Mathies, who earned his bachelor's degree from Murray State in 1998, was a four-year letterwinner in football. He began his career at Kansas before transferring to Murray State. A defensive lineman, he helped the Racers to a pair of Ohio Valley Conference championships as MSU qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in both 1995 and '96.
Eric Morris Weekly Press Conference vs. South Alabama | Mean Green FB
Tuesday, September 23
Glory To The Green: Recap vs Army | Mean Green FB
Monday, September 22
Broadcast Highlights vs Army | Mean Green Football
Sunday, September 21
Eric Morris Weekly Press Conference vs. Army | Mean Green FB
Tuesday, September 16