Marty Biagi - Football Coach - University of North Texas Athletics

Marty Biagi

Title:
Assistant Coach, Special Teams Coordinator
Email:
untfootball@unt.edu
Phone:
940-565-3653

Marty Biagi joined the Mean Green following the 2016 season as the special teams coordinator.

In his three seasons in Denton, Biagi's unit has scored six touchdowns by six different players, has blocked nine punts and four kicks, while also accumulating 350 points (TDs/FGs/PATs) and had 10 players earn all-conference recognition between 2017-19, including three different kickers.

His group has been in the top 50 in ESPN's Special Teams Unit Efficiency rating in each of his three seasons in Denton, most recently in 2019 - finishing 18th (and first in Conference USA). Biagi is also a two-time Football Scoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year nominee.

In 2019, Biagi led a unit that produced four all-conference performers - kick returner Deion Hair-Griffin (second team), kicker Ethan Mooney (honorable mention), punter Alvin Kenworthy (honorable mention) and deep snapper Nate Durham (honorable mention). North Texas also scored a pair of touchdowns on special teams, and Mooney led the team in scoring with 91 points (ranking sixth among all players in Conference USA). Hair-Griffin averaged 40.8 yards per kick return on 12 attempts, with one touchdown. His average would have led the nation, had he met the minimum of 1.2 returns per game (he averaged 1.09). DeAndre Torrey also averaged 22.3 yards per return on 22 attempts, which ranked second in C-USA and 40th in the country. Kenworthy, a two-time all-conference honoree, averaged 43.7 yards per punt, which ranked 32nd nationally and best in C-USA.

In 2018, Biagi orchestrated quite possibly the play of the year in college football in the win over Arkansas. Biagi's "Peter Pan" punt return call was executed to perfection by returner Keegan Brewer. Brewer caught a pooch punt on his own 10 yard line and stayed in place, acting as though he fair caught the ball. As Arkansas special teamers slowly walked toward their sideline, Brewer took off behind a Mean Green caravan for a 90-yard touchdown, the third longest punt return in program history.

Five Mean Green special teamers earned all-conference recognition in 2018 - kicker Cole Hedlund (first team), punter Alvin Kenworthy (honorable mention), kick returner DeAndre Torrey (honorable mention), Brewer (honorable mention) and long snapper Nate Durham (honorable mention). Biagi also replaced kicker Trevor Moore, arguably the most successful kicker in program history, with Hedlund, a graduate transfer from Arkansas. Hedlund converted on 19 of 22 field goals and 51 of 54 extra points on his way to First Team All-Conference USA honors. Kenworthy also had a strong season, earning honorable mention status after averaging 42.2 yards per punt with a then-career long of 68 yards. UNT's kick coverage team was also a weapon, holding opponents to just 19.3 yards per return on 38 returns. The Mean Green ranked 23rd nationally in kick returns (23.7 per attempt), with Torrey averaging 27.5 yards per return on 12 attempts, with one touchdown. North Texas also ranked 33rd in punt return average (11.5 yards per return).

In 2017, Moore posted the best statistical season in program history under Biagi's tutelage, converting 20 of 22 field goals (90.9 percent) and a perfect 55 of 55 on extra points. Additionally, Moore had 38 touchbacks, averaging 61.2 yards per kickoff. In punt coverage, the Mean Green allowed just 3.0 per return, with only nine punts returnable. Moore was selected as a second team all-conference performer.

Biagi spent the 2016 season as the special teams analyst at Notre Dame, where he assisted Irish special teams coordinator Scott Booker with valuable information designed to improve the efficiency and success of Notre Dame's special teams.

While in South Bend, Biagi conducted daily position meetings and in practice game planning. He also coached All-American kicker Justin Yoon.

Prior to his time at Notre Dame, Biagi had a one-year stint as the cornerbacks coach at South Dakota in 2015. He helped the Coyotes register the program's most wins since 2011 -- with the highlight being a 24-21 win at five-time defending national champion North Dakota State. South Dakota improved its defensive national rankings in six different categories by at least 60 spots, including passing defense, rushing defense and total defense.

Biagi spent three seasons (2012-14) at Southern University. In 2014, he served as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach, and the Jaguars were the top-ranked special teams unit in scoring in all of college football. Southern returned four kickoffs for touchdowns, three punts for scores and Biagi was named a finalist for Football Scoop's Special Teams Coordinator of the Year.

Biagi spent the 2011 season as co-defensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Prior to that, he was a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas where he specialized in coaching special teams and defensive backs.

Biagi was a punter and place kicker at Marshall from 2004-07. He earned his bachelor's degree in Huntington, West Virginia, in physical education in May of 2008. A native of Shelbyville, Kentucky, Biagi is married to the former Rachael Smith.