Matt Tyler was named Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach in March of 2026.
In 2025, Tyler was with D2 Southern Arkansas University. The Muleriders finished near the top of the Great American Conference and Top 30 in NCAA Division II in several categories including interceptions (led GAC), sacks per game, interception returns, fourth-down defense and scoring defense. ILB Ken Ellison and OLB Kendrick Juniel earned all-conference honors.
In 2024 at SAU, he helped assist a defense that finished top three in the Great American Conference in eight different defensive categories. Those categories included leading the conference in defensive touchdowns and sacks, as well as finishing among the top two teams in the GAC in tackles for loss, interceptions, turnovers gained, passing defense, completion percentage & pass efficiency defense. ILB Gavin Roe earned all-conference honors.
Tyler arrived at SAU after a successful stint as the Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator/Special Teams assistant at Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That fall, Davenport posted an 8-2 record, while reaching as high as No. 9 in the D2 AFCA rankings. The losses suffered by the Panthers in 2023 were to top 10 ranked and NCAA playoff teams in Ferris State and Grand Valley State. While assisting the special teams unit, he helped mentor a pair of All-GLIAC specialists in kicker Brandon Gielow and punter Kyle Wojahan.
Prior to his one-season stint at Davenport, Tyler served as the Running Backs Coach/Out of State Recruiting Coordinator at American River College in Sacramento, Calif. During his time at American River, he mentored multiple running backs on their way to an undefeated conference championship and Nor-Cal Championship game appearance. He also assisted with special teams which ranked among the top of the conference.
The Californian played fullback at Henderson State for three seasons. While with the Reddies, Tyler earned all-conference honors both on the field and in the classroom. The Henderson State offense ranked among the best during his time at HSU. In 2021, HSU had the fourth-best total offense in Division II (494.3 ypg) and seventh-best scoring offense (40.5 ppg). Between 2019 and 2021, the Reddies won 18 games and made an appearance in the 2019 Live United Bowl.
Before Henderson State, Tyler attended and played at Butte College in Oroville, Calif., where he played fullback for head coach Robby Snelling and the history-laden Roadrunners. The team made an appearance in the 2017 State Center Bowl. Tyler received his associate of arts in sociology from Butte College in 2017, his bachelor of arts in sociology in 2019 and his masters of arts in Sports Administration from Henderson State in 2021.
Born in Sacramento, California, Tyler attended Rocklin High School in Rocklin, Calif., graduating in 2015. He currently resides in Abilene, where he enjoys weightlifting and hiking in his free time.
