Matt Powledge - Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Matt Powledge

Title:
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties

Matt Powledge joined Dan Lanning’s inaugural Oregon coaching staff on December 17, 2021 as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach after working with some of the nation’s stingiest defenses at Baylor and Louisiana.

"Matt brings strong credentials and has a deep understanding of what it takes to win,” Lanning said at the time of the hiring. “Most recently, he served an integral role in a Big 12 championship team at Baylor, where he coached the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year. He previously was instrumental in the fantastic turnaround at Louisiana under Billy Napier. Most of all, Matt is deeply respected in the coaching profession because he cares about the young men he coaches and leads them to success.”

Powledge came to Eugene after mentoring two of the Big 12’s best players as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator at Baylor, which won the Big 12 Championship in his second season with the team. He was responsible for the development of 2021 Jim Thorpe Award finalist Jalen Pitre and 2020 consensus All-American kick returner Trestan Ebner.

Prior to joining the Louisiana coaching staff, Powledge established a strong coaching record in Texas and Louisiana. The native of Huntsville, Tex. joined the Louisiana staff after spending time at ULM, Sam Houston State Kentucky, Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana.

Baylor (2020-21)
The safeties and special teams flourished under Powledge during his two years at Baylor. He developed Pitre into a 2021 Thorpe Award finalist and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year while Ebner earned back-to-back Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year honors with Powledge running the unit. The Bears won the Big 12 Conference in his second year with the team, earning a bid in the Sugar Bowl.

In 2021, Powledge’s safeties were a key part of one of the nation’s top defenses. The Bears ranked fifth nationally with 17 interceptions and were 14th in the nation in scoring defense (19.2 ppg). Baylor held its 2021 opponents to 13.1 points below their season scoring average. On special teams, the Powledge-led Bears gave the defense the ninth-best starting field position in the nation.

Individually, Pitre led the Big 12 with 17.5 tackles for loss as part of his 70 total tackles on the year. He also added three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and seven pass breakups. He ranked among the nation's best in fumble recoveries (3, T3rd) and TFL's (17.5, 7th). Ebner ranked fourth in the Big 12 in all-purpose yards per game with 133.8 and tallied 603 total return yards on the season. His 98-yard kick return for a touchdown against Iowa State earned him Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors

In 2020, Powledge's safety group featured Christian Morgan and JT Woods, who finished tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Additionally, Pitre led the team with 60 tackles and 13.0 TFL and returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns.

On special teams, Ebner was named to four All-America teams as a returner or all-purpose player. Against Kansas, he became the first player in Baylor's modern history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game. Kicker John Mayers earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors.

Louisiana (2018-19)
After two years at ULM, Powledge moved south and took his first job on the defensive side of the ball as the outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Louisiana. While in Lafayette, Powledge coached six All-Sun Belt performers as the Ragin’ Cajuns won the Sun Belt West Division twice and played in two bowl games.

In 2019, Louisiana outside linebacker Joe Dillon earned second-team All-Sun Belt honors after finishing third in the conference with 7.0 sacks. UL had the league’s best scoring defense, allowing just 19.7 points per game while finishing second in the Sun Belt with 33 sacks. The special teams unit ranked first or second in the Sun Belt in kickoff return defense, kickoff returns and net punting. The Cajuns also ranked among the top 24 in the nation in each category.

Powledge helped head coach Billy Napier and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts lead the Ragin Cajuns to the program’s first 10-win season ever in 2018. Outside linebacker Justin Middleton earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention recognition after recording 67 tackles, 4.0 TFL and 1.0 sack. Cajun kicker Kyle Pfau also earned honorable mention honors after making 15-of-18 field goals, including a 52-yarder against Arkansas State.

ULM (2016-17)
Powledge moved from the FCS to the FBS level in 2016, serving as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator for two years. While in north Louisiana, he coached Marcus Green to a stellar season as a kick returner. Green returned four kicks for touchdowns in 2017 and averaged 32.4 yards per return. As a team, ULM ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference in kickoff returns averaging 25.2 yards per return. The Warhawks also were among the league leaders in field goal percentage and punting.

Sam Houston State (2014-15)
The Sam Houston State alum returned to his alma mater for two seasons as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator. Powledge coached five players to All-Southland honors and two special teamers earned All-America honors after the 2014 season.
In 2015, Corey Avery earned first-team All-Southland honors with Powledge as his position coach after racking up 1,483 yards on the ground with 15 touchdowns. It was the best season of Avery’s career, which culminated with him ranking second in career rushing yards and touchdowns.
In 2014, the Bearkats ranked atop the Southland Conference leaderboard in four different special teams categories (punt return yards, blocked kicks, special teams scores and PAT percentage). The squad was also one of six teams in the NCAA to block multiple punts and return two or more for touchdowns.

Kentucky (2013)
As a graduate assistant at Kentucky, Powledge primarily assisted with the defense and special teams. As a defensive assistant, he worked with two Second Team All-SEC choices, Bud Dupree and Avery Williamson, during the 2013 season before both went on to successful NFL careers.

Northwestern State (2012)
Powledge remained in the Southland Conference for his second coaching position. He mentored the Demon running backs as the team piled up 1,286 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. Three Bearkat backs ran for at least 250 yards.

Southeastern Louisiana (2010-11)
Powledge started his coaching career at SLU as a graduate assistant the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He worked primarily with the tight ends during his second season. Anto Duplessis caught five passes for 33 yards and a touchdown while also blocking for a Lion rushing attack that contributed 21 of SLU’s 38 offensive touchdowns.

Playing Career and Personal
A native of Huntsville, Texas, Powledge played fullback for his hometown school, Sam Houston State, from 2005-09, culminating in All-Southland and team captain honors his senior season. He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Sam Houston in 2009. Playing for coach Mitch Coey at Huntsville High School, Powledge was an all-district running back and linebacker and earned area “Red Zone Player of the Year” honors. His fiancée, Karina, joined Powledge in Eugene when he became the co-defensive coordinator.

COACHING CAREER

2022	Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties	Oregon
2020-21	Safeties/Special Teams Coordinator	Baylor
2018-19	Outside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator	Louisiana
2016-17	Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator	ULM
2014-15	Running Backs/Special Teams Coordinator	Sam Houston State
2013	Graduate Assistant - Defense	Kentucky
2012	Running Backs	Northwestern State
2010-11	Graduate Assistant - Tight Ends	Southeastern Louisiana

BOWL GAMES
2022 Allstate Sugar Bowl – Baylor (Safeties/Special Teams Coordinator)
2019 LendingTree Bowl – Louisiana (Special Teams Coordinator/OLBs)
2018 AutoNation Cure Bowl – Louisiana (Special Teams Coordinator/OLBs)

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2021 Big 12 – Baylor (Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties)
2019 Sun Belt West – Louisiana (Special Teams Coordinator/OLBs)
2018 Sun Belt West – Louisiana (Special Teams Coordinator/OLBs)

NFL DRAFT PICKS COACHED
2020 (RD 7) KR/RB Raymond Calais – Louisiana – Los Angeles Rams
2016 (RD 7) P Lachlan Edwards – Sam Houston State – New York Jets

ALL-AMERICANS COACHED
2021 S Jalen Pitre – Bayor (AFCA, AP, FWAA, WC – 1st, SN – 2nd)
2020 KR Trestan Ebner – Baylor (AFCA, SN, WC – 2nd, Phil Steele – 3rd)
2014 P Lachlan Edwards – Sam Houston State (SN – 1st)
2014 K Luc Swingberghe – Sam Houston State (BSN – 1st)

CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR COACHED
2021 S Jalen Pitre – Baylor – Big 12 Defensive (Coaches, AP)
2021 KR Trestan Ebner – Baylor – Big 12 Special Teams (Coaches)
2020 KR Trestan Ebner – Baylor – Big 12 Special Teams (Coaches)

ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS COACHED
2021 S Jalen Pitre – Baylor – Big 12 (AP, Coaches – 1st)
2021 KR Trestan Ebner – Baylor – Big 12 (AP, Coaches – 1st)
2020 S Jalen Pitre – Baylor – Big 12 (AP, Coaches – 1st)
2020 KR Trestan Ebner – Baylor – Big 12 (AP, Coaches – 2nd)
2019 KR Raymond Calais – Louisiana – Sun Belt (Coaches – 1st)
2019 LB Joe Dillon – Louisiana – Sun Belt (Coaches – 2nd)
2019 P Rhys Burns – Louisiana – Sun Belt (Coaches – 2nd)
2019 K Steve Artigue – Louisiana – Sun Belt (Coaches – 3rd)
2018 LB Justin Middleton – Louisiana – Sun Belt (Coaches – HM)
2018 K Kyle Pfau – Louisiana – Sun Belt (Coaches – HM)
2017 KR Marcus Green – ULM – Sun Belt (Coaches – 1st)
2015 RB Corey Avery – Sam Houston State – Southland (Coaches – 1st)
2015 P Lachlan Edwards – Sam Houston State – Southland (Coaches – 2nd)
2014 P Lachlan Edwards – Sam Houston State – Southland (Coaches – 1st)
2014 RB Kershawn Hill – Sam Houston State – Southland (Coaches – 1st)
2014 K Luc Swingberghe – Sam Houston State – Southland (Coaches – 2nd)