Charles Fischer Administrator No. 1 Share Posted December 18, 2021 (Press Release from Oregon Athletics) EUGENE, Ore. — Head coach Dan Lanning announced the hiring of Matt Powledge as Oregon football’s new co-defensive coordinator on Friday. Powledge is the second addition to Lanning’s 2022 coaching staff, joining offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kenny Dillingham. “I am excited to announce the addition of Matt Powledge as co-defensive coordinator,” Lanning said. “Matt adds strong credentials and has a deep understanding of what it takes to win. 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. Duck Nation, join me in warmly welcoming Matt and his fiancée, Karina, to Eugene.” Powledge comes to Oregon after spending the last two seasons as Baylor’s safeties coach and special teams coordinator. He has also been the special teams coordinator for Sam Houston State (2014-15), Louisiana Monroe (2016-17), and Louisiana (2018-19). “I am humbled and extremely honored to have the opportunity to serve on the University of Oregon football staff under Coach Lanning,” Powledge said. “I have long admired Coach Lanning and his leadership approach. When you add the tradition of the Oregon Ducks and the strong commitment by its leadership team, this is a special opportunity. My fiancée, Karina, and I are excited to arrive in Eugene. I can’t wait to begin working with the outstanding young men in the Oregon program. Go Ducks!” Powledge helped Baylor go 11-2 and win the Big 12 Championship this season, earning a berth in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Under Powledge’s tutelage, safety Jalen Pitre earned consensus all-America and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the conference with 17.5 tackles for loss. He finished with 70 total tackles and added three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups. Pitre was also a finalist for the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in the nation. In 2020, Powledge coached Pitre to an All-Big 12 first-team selection while fellow safeties Christian Morgan and JT Woods each had three interceptions to earn all-conference honorable mention recognition. Kick returner Trestan Ebner was the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year in each of his two seasons with Powledge as the special teams coordinator, earning consensus second-team all-America honors in 2020. He racked up 603 total return yards with a 98-yard return for a touchdown in 2021, and he became the first player in Baylor’s modern history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game in a standout performance vs. Kansas in 2020. Powledge went to Baylor from Louisiana, where he worked as the outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator in 2018 and 2019. While in Lafayette, Powledge coached six All-Sun Belt performers and helped the Rajin’ Cajuns to back-to-back Sun Belt West Division titles. Powledge helped head coach Billy Napier and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts lead the Rajin’ Cajuns to the program’s first-ever 10-win season in 2018. In 2019, Powledge’s special teams unit ranked first or second in the league in kickoff return defense, kickoff returns, and net punting, and he helped outside linebacker Joe Dillon earn second-team all-SBC honors. The tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at ULM in 2016 and 2017, Powledge coached kick returner Marcus Green to a stellar season before departing for Louisiana. Green ran four kickoffs back for touchdowns in 2017 while averaging 32.4 yards per return. A Sam Houston State alum, Powledge returned to his alma mater as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator in 2014 and 2015. He coached five players to all-Southland first- or second-team honors, with two special teams players earning all-America honors after the 2014 season. The Bearkats were one of just six teams in the country in 2014 to block multiple punts and return two or more for touchdowns. Powledge made his coaching debut as a graduate assistant at Southeastern Louisiana in 2010 before taking over as tight ends coach in 2011. He went to Northwestern State as the running backs coach in 2012, and was a graduate assistant at Kentucky in 2013 before returning to Sam Houston State. A native of Huntsville, Texas, Powledge played fullback at Sam Houston State (2005-09) and was a team captain and all-Southland honoree as a senior. He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2009. Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Log Haulin No. 2 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Coaching staff is starting to come together. Getting some heavy lifters. Going to be an interesting off season. Amazes me how successful these 3 amigos are at such young age. Good to be a Duck. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duck 1972 No. 3 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Now that's what I like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1Ducker1 No. 4 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Looks good on paper, now lets see what happens on the field. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel C No. 5 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Considering Powledge has faced the offenses that Riley liked to run while at Oklahoma. Feels like a game of chess. Move by USC, countermove by Oregon. I am excited to see how this plays out in the field Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradPelican82 No. 6 Share Posted December 19, 2021 (edited) Saw the whole BIG 12 Championship game and came away impressed with Baylor's Defense . Improved D and Special Teams can win games Edited December 19, 2021 by BradPelican82 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyToBeADuck No. 7 Share Posted December 19, 2021 There are some talented young players on the roster. A good number got their baptism by fire on the field, very early in their careers. Yet they are very raw. They need the proper coaching to become polished, poised and lethal. ... So as our young players, recruits and potential portal transfers watch the New Years 6 games and CFP games (invitational games) they will see: 2 exceptional, disciplined defensive coordinators hrlp lead their teams in high level games. They and their parents personal snapshot for their futures. And coaches who finish what they start. Players and school first. A lesson MC had not learned. Won't be coach speak. Actual game results. Wish our future coaches well in their bowls. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Joseph Moderator No. 8 Share Posted December 19, 2021 On 12/17/2021 at 7:43 PM, Charles Fischer said: (Press Release from Oregon Athletics) EUGENE, Ore. — Head coach Dan Lanning announced the hiring of Matt Powledge as Oregon football’s new co-defensive coordinator on Friday. Powledge is the second addition to Lanning’s 2022 coaching staff, joining offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kenny Dillingham. “I am excited to announce the addition of Matt Powledge as co-defensive coordinator,” Lanning said. “Matt adds strong credentials and has a deep understanding of what it takes to win. 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. Duck Nation, join me in warmly welcoming Matt and his fiancée, Karina, to Eugene.” Powledge comes to Oregon after spending the last two seasons as Baylor’s safeties coach and special teams coordinator. He has also been the special teams coordinator for Sam Houston State (2014-15), Louisiana Monroe (2016-17), and Louisiana (2018-19). “I am humbled and extremely honored to have the opportunity to serve on the University of Oregon football staff under Coach Lanning,” Powledge said. “I have long admired Coach Lanning and his leadership approach. When you add the tradition of the Oregon Ducks and the strong commitment by its leadership team, this is a special opportunity. My fiancée, Karina, and I are excited to arrive in Eugene. I can’t wait to begin working with the outstanding young men in the Oregon program. Go Ducks!” Powledge helped Baylor go 11-2 and win the Big 12 Championship this season, earning a berth in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Under Powledge’s tutelage, safety Jalen Pitre earned consensus all-America and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the conference with 17.5 tackles for loss. He finished with 70 total tackles and added three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups. Pitre was also a finalist for the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in the nation. In 2020, Powledge coached Pitre to an All-Big 12 first-team selection while fellow safeties Christian Morgan and JT Woods each had three interceptions to earn all-conference honorable mention recognition. Kick returner Trestan Ebner was the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year in each of his two seasons with Powledge as the special teams coordinator, earning consensus second-team all-America honors in 2020. He racked up 603 total return yards with a 98-yard return for a touchdown in 2021, and he became the first player in Baylor’s modern history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game in a standout performance vs. Kansas in 2020. Powledge went to Baylor from Louisiana, where he worked as the outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator in 2018 and 2019. While in Lafayette, Powledge coached six All-Sun Belt performers and helped the Rajin’ Cajuns to back-to-back Sun Belt West Division titles. Powledge helped head coach Billy Napier and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts lead the Rajin’ Cajuns to the program’s first-ever 10-win season in 2018. In 2019, Powledge’s special teams unit ranked first or second in the league in kickoff return defense, kickoff returns, and net punting, and he helped outside linebacker Joe Dillon earn second-team all-SBC honors. The tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at ULM in 2016 and 2017, Powledge coached kick returner Marcus Green to a stellar season before departing for Louisiana. Green ran four kickoffs back for touchdowns in 2017 while averaging 32.4 yards per return. A Sam Houston State alum, Powledge returned to his alma mater as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator in 2014 and 2015. He coached five players to all-Southland first- or second-team honors, with two special teams players earning all-America honors after the 2014 season. The Bearkats were one of just six teams in the country in 2014 to block multiple punts and return two or more for touchdowns. Powledge made his coaching debut as a graduate assistant at Southeastern Louisiana in 2010 before taking over as tight ends coach in 2011. He went to Northwestern State as the running backs coach in 2012, and was a graduate assistant at Kentucky in 2013 before returning to Sam Houston State. A native of Huntsville, Texas, Powledge played fullback at Sam Houston State (2005-09) and was a team captain and all-Southland honoree as a senior. He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2009. Thanks Charles. Are the new hires able to immediately start recruiting and working the portal for the Ducks? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICamel No. 9 Share Posted December 24, 2021 So................................who is the other co-defensive coordinator? Will it be Lanning? Big Joe retained? Someone from the outside? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
