Matt Caponi - Football Coach - University of North Texas Athletics

Matt Caponi

Title:
Defensive Coordinator, Corners
Email:
UNTFootball@unt.edu
Alma Mater:
Mount Union, 2005

Matt Caponi joined the UNT Football staff as defensive coordinator in December 2022.

In 2023, Caponi coordinated a North Texas defense that ranked third in The American in passing defense during conference play. Working directly with the cornerbacks in 2023, Caponi was a key cog in coaching Ridge Texada who heads into the 2024 season tied for fourth all-time in career passes defended.

A 17-year coaching veteran, Caponi spent four seasons mentoring the cornerbacks at Iowa State. In that time, he played a huge role in ISU's success, as the Cyclones made three bowl games and ranked in the top-three in the league in scoring defense every season of his tenure.  The Cyclones finished No. 6 nationally (285.6 ypg) in total defense in 2022.

He reunited with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell in 2019. The two Mount Union (Ohio) graduates were on staff together at Mount Union in 2005.

Caponi helped Iowa State to a historic 2020 season as it finished the regular season in first place in the Big 12 standings, made the Big 12 Championship game and qualified for a New Year’s Six bowl for the first time in school history.

The Cyclones capped off the season with a 34-17 win over Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl. ISU’s eight conferences wins and nine overall wins eclipsed or tied school records, and the Cyclones earned their highest ranking in school history during the season (No. 6) and postseason (No. 9).

ISU’s finished first in the league in total defense in 2022 (285.6) after two seasons in season 2020 (340.4) and 2021 (310.5). The Cyclones’ defensive efforts ranked fourth (2022) and ninth (2021) nationally,  the lowest outputs for the program since 1984.

Anthony Johnson Jr. emerged as one of the top corners in the Big 12 thanks to Caponi. He was a four-time All-Big 12 honoree and started 54 games in his career, the most in league history.

Prior to his arrival in Ames, Caponi was the defensive backs coach at West Virginia from 2016-18. The Mountaineers were one of the top defensive teams in the Big 12 during his tenure in Morgantown.

In 2018, Caponi mentored four players who earned All-Big 12 recognition, including Kenny Robinson Jr., who was a First-Team All-Big 12 selection after tying for third in the league in interceptions (4) and ranking fourth in the conference in tackles (77).

The 2017 defense ranked No. 16 nationally in most defensive three-and-outs per game and No. 24 in best third-down defense. Kyzir White, who was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Chargers, was named an honorable mention All-American and a Second-Team All-Big 12 pick. He tied for seventh in the Big 12 in tackles.

In his first year at WVU (2016), the Mountaineer defense ranked No. 24 nationally in fumbles recovered (11) and turnovers gained (25) and No. 35 in pass interceptions (14) and scoring defense (24.0). In Big 12 games, WVU’s defense was No. 1 in scoring defense, total defense and fewest opponent first downs, No. 2 in rushing defense land No. 3 in third-down defense.

He came to West Virginia after serving as the safeties coach at Arizona for four years, first as a graduate assistant in 2012 and then as a full-time coach from 2013-15. Prior to Arizona, he spent one year as a graduate assistant at Pitt (2011) and was the defensive coordinator at Washington & Jefferson for three years (2008-11).

At W&J, Caponi worked with the linebackers in 2010 and oversaw the secondary for three years (2006-09). While he was on staff in 2008, the Presidents advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA National Tournament.

He started his coaching career in 2004 as a student assistant at Mount Union and was the JV Coordinator and linebackers coach in 2005.

Caponi played for national powerhouse Mount Union, helping the Raiders to a 55-1 record and three NCAA Division III national championships. He was a team captain, a starting safety and earned second team all-conference honors as a senior.

The Pittsburgh, Penn., native graduated from Mount Union with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 2005.  He and his wife, the former Kathleen Coyne, have a son, Salvatore, and a daughter, Sienna.

Coaching History
2004: Mount Union, student assistant
2005: Mount Union, linebackers
2006-07: Washington & Jefferson, defensive backs
2008-10: Washington & Jefferson, defensive coordinator/defensive backs
2011: Pittsburgh, graduate assistant
2012: Arizona, graduate assistant
2013-15: Arizona, safeties
2016-18: West Virginia, defensive backs
2019-22: Iowa State, corners
2023-: UNT, defensive coordinator