Brings 16 years of experience to USF
TAMPA, DEC. 16, 2022 – University of South Florida Head Coach Alex Golesh has named veteran Matt Birkett as the Bulls’ cornerbacks coach.
Birkett brings 16 years of coaching experience to USF, most recently spending four seasons on the staff at James Madison University as the dominant FCS program transitioned to FBS football, posting an 8-3 record and mid-year top 25 ranking in its first season in 2022.
“Matt brings 16 years of coaching experience and a great track record developing defensive backs that are strong in coverage and create turnovers,” Golesh said. “He was a big part of JMU’s very successful jump to FBS football this past season and I am very excited that he and his family are joining us in Tampa to help propel our program into an exciting future.”
Working primarily with the cornerbacks at JMU (2019-22), Birkett guided three Dukes to all-conference honors and had one earn FCS All-America honors at cornerback in 2021.
During that span, the JMU defense ranked top 10 nationally in total defense in each of those seasons, including in the 2022 season, its first competing at the FBS level. The Dukes were also top 10 in scoring defense in each of their final three seasons while an FCS member.
In 2022, JMU’s defense was among the best in the Sun Belt and the nation, helping the team to an 8-3 record and 6-2 mark in conference play to finish tied atop the East Division. The Dukes ranked second nationally in first-down defense (13.82), fifth in third-down defense (28.4%), eighth in total defense (289.5) and 10th in takeaways (24). JMU additionally ranked 29th in scoring defense, allowing 20.9 points per game.
In 2021, JMU led the nation in takeaways (31). Of the team’s 18 interceptions, Birkett’s corners accounted for seven, including a team-leading four from FCS All-American Greg Ross, who also had a team-high 12 pass breakups.
Birkett came to JMU following a seven-year stint on staff at Maine (2012-18), which included five on the defensive side of the ball. He was defensive backs coach for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, while also leading the cornerbacks for three years (2014-16) and running backs (2013) and tight ends (2012) for one season each.
He was part of leading Maine’s defense to ranking as one of the nation’s best at the FCS level. In 2018, the Black Bears turned in their best season in program history, winning the CAA championship, reaching the FCS semifinals for the first time ever, and leading the league in six defensive categories.
Birkett came to Maine following one season at Chaminade High School in California, where he was defensive backs coach, helped the team to a 10-2 record while reaching the 2011 California Interscholastic Federation semifinals. He also had stops at UCLA (2010), Pac-Five High School in Hawaii (2008-09), Rindge and Latin High School in Massachusetts (2007).
He is a 2003 graduate of Edinboro College, where he led the Scots to a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship. He also played at Rhode Island where he was named the team’s co-MVP in 1999.
Birkett and his wife Sara have two sons, Justus and Massai, and two daughters, Siena and Mischa.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 26th season in 2022 while completing construction on a $22 million Indoor Performance Facility. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons and earned 16 All-America selections, including 2021 consensus All-American Brian Battie, while seeing 32 first-team all-conference selections. USF has had 30 players selected in the NFL Draft and has made 10 bowl game appearances (going 6-4 in those games), posting a program-record six straight appearances from 2005-2010 and most recently making four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18. The Bulls posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
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