Ohio University

Last Updated: Jan. 16, 2026

Twitter: @Coach_Mattix

Kurt Mattix was named Ohio football's defensive coordinator on Jan. 16, 2025, marking his second stint in Athens. Previously, Mattix spent the 2024 season with the Bobcats as the Pass Rush Specialist and Defensive Ends Coach.

Mattix returns to Ohio by way of Charlotte, where he served as the Co-Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach for the 2025 season.

Mattix was a part of the Bobcats' historic 2024 season, which marked the program's first 11-win season, sixth consecutive bowl victory and its first Mid-American Conference Championship win since 1968. Notably, the defense held the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks to just three points in the 2024 MAC Championship, marking the first time a team hasn't scored a touchdown in the MAC Championship as well as the largest margin of victory (38-3). 

Under Mattix, Bradley Weaver earned first-team All-MAC accolades as he finished the year with 15.0 tackles for loss (No. 3 MAC) and 8.5 sacks (No. 2 MAC). Weaver was also named to the final watch list for the Ted Hendricks award, which is presented annually to the nation's top defensive end.

Prior to Ohio, Mattix was at San Diego State, where he served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2020-23. Since Mattix took over as the defensive coordinator, the Aztecs rank ninth in rushing defense, 17^th in total defense, and 18^th in scoring and pass efficiency rating. The 2023 season saw Mattix's defense force 18 turnovers with 10 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. The 10 interceptions ranked 22^nd in FBS and this performance earned three athletes All-Mountain West honors. 
 
The most recent of Mattix's well-decorated student-athletes is Jonah Tavai, who was named all-American by Pro Football Focus, Bleacher Report, Associated Press, USA Today, and College Football Network after the 2022 season. He also coached lineman Cameron Thomas, who was named 2021 Mountain-West Defensive Player of the Year and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
 
Prior to SDSU, Mattix served as Eastern Kentucky's defensive coordinator from 2016-19. The Colonels' defensive unit was regarded as one of the leaders in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2019, leading the conference in third down percentage, fourth down percentage, red zone percentage, tackles for loss per game and first downs allowed. They ranked second among OVC teams in scoring defense, rush defense and total defense. EKU held its opponents to under 100 yards rushing six times during the 2019 campaign, highlighted holding Tennessee Tech to two yards and Murray State to 22 yards. 
 
Mattix spent the 2015 season as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at his alma mater, Valparaiso, after working with the defensive line, linebackers and rush backers at Michigan from 2011-15. Prior to Michigan, Mattix served as the tight ends coach at Ball State from 2009-11, returning five years after served as a graduate assistant for the Cardinals' football program. Mattix also held positions at Saint Joseph's College, Wayne State, Anderson University and Trine University after starting his career at Portage High School in Indiana. 
 
Mattix started his collegiate career at the University of Indianapolis, where he was a student-athlete from 1994-95 before using his final two years of eligibility at Valparaiso. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education at Valparaiso in 1999.