Matt Brock begins his second year at Washington State after joining Mike Leach’s coaching staff in January of 2018, serving as the special teams coordinator while also coaching the outside linebackers.
In his first season Brock saw a trio of Cougars earn All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention honors on special teams in punter Oscar Draguicevich III, kick returner Travell Harris and Kainoa Wilson as a special teams player. WSU finished No. 11 in the country and first in the Pac-12 in net punting (40.9), fifth in the country in kick return (27.1) and second in the Pac-12 in kickoff coverage. Cougar special teams saw Harris earn Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week after a 100-yard kickoff return for touchdown against Eastern Washington, the punt return team return a blocked punt for a touchdown at Oregon State, the kickoff coverage team score a touchdown after recovering a fumble against Arizona and kicker Blake Mazza hit a 42-yard game-winning field goal in the final minute at Stanford. Brock also coached a pair of first-year starters at RUSH linebacker who combined for 15 tackles-for-loss including 8.5 sacks, helping WSU lead the Pac-12 in sacks and finish third in rushing defense.
Brock arrived in Pullman having spent the previous two seasons at Bowling Green, where he served as special team’s coordinator and worked with linebackers. In 2017, he was a nominee for the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in the country. His special teams units ranked among the nation’s top 20 in three different categories: net punting average (4th), kickoff return defense (3rd) and punt return defense (20th).
In his first season at BGSU, Brock’s special teams ranked No. 1 nationally in kickoff defense, third in net punting average and No. 28 in punt return defense. Punter Joseph Davidson was a two-time Ray Guy Award semifinalist, in 2016 was a first team Academic All-American, and was named fourth team All-American by Phil Steele.
Prior to BGSU, Brock spent three seasons at Texas Tech as a defensive quality control assistant. He also coached the defensive line in the Texas Bowl against LSU in 2015. Brock was promoted to inside linebackers coach early in the 2014 season following the departure of defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt and served in that capacity during the remainder of that season. Brock was the defensive quality control coach in his first season at Tech in 2013.
In 2014, Brock spent the majority of the season as the inside linebackers coach, developing Sam Eguavoen, an All-Big 12 linebacker. He assisted in developing the game plan each week and was directly involved in analysis and evaluation on game day. During the 2013 season, Brock’s first with the Red Raiders, he coached Will Smith who garnered All-Big 12 honors along with being named Holiday Bowl Defensive Player of the Game. Smith was drafted in the seventh round by the Dallas Cowboys.
He went to Texas Tech following two seasons at Baker University (2011-12), his alma mater, where he served as a graduate assistant coach, overseeing the team’s linebackers and assisted Baker defensive coordinator Jason Thoren in the coaches’ booth on game day.
Brock was a linebacker during his collegiate playing career at Baker. He tallied 277 career tackles and posted seven interceptions while leading the league in total tackles and tackles per game in 2010.
A 2009 and 2010 all-conference pick, Brock was a two-time Academic All-American and earned several team most valuable player awards.
Brock graduated from Baker in 2011 while majoring in physical education. Brock and his wife, Alyssa have one daughter, Emma.
