Report: Mississippi State to promote linebackers coach Matt Brock to DC

Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker coach Matt Brock is expected to be promoted to defensive coordinator according to a report from Sport Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger. Brock has been with the Bulldogs for the past three seasons, hired in 2020 as the team’s special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach.

He was former defensive coordinator Zach Arnett’s ‘right hand man’ and now that Arnett has been promoted from interim head coach to full-time head coach following the tragic passing of Mike Leach, Brock will now assume the role of defensive coordinator and play caller.

Brock was MSU’s defense play caller in their ReliaQuest Bowl victory over Illinois, where they held the Fighting Illini to just 10 points and under 300 yards of total offense.

More on Brock

Matt Brock played at the collegiate level for Baker University, an NAIA program in Kansas where he was a two-time all-conference selection and two-time Academic All-American. He ended his playing career with 277 career tackles and seven interceptions, then joined the coaching staff for two seasons as a graduate assistant.

Brock’s next stop was Texas Tech, where he was in a defensive quality control position before being promoted to inside linebackers coach. He then spent time at Bowling Green and Washington State as a linebackers and special teams coach before being hired in the same role at Mississippi State. He’s been nominated for the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in the country, and selected to the AFCA’s 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute.

His special team units have been consistent and productive, and in his defensive play-calling debut so was his defense. In the ReliaQuest Bowl Brock helped lead a defense that held Illinois’ effective rushing attack to just 35 total yards on the ground, the first time they’d been held to under 100 rushing yards all season in a game. The Bulldogs lived in the backfield all day, recording 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks, which is a season high and an MSU bowl record.

Brock will remain on the staff with newly promoted head coach Zach Arnett, who was hired on December 15 signing a four-year, $12 million contract. It will be both of the young coach’s first times in their expanded roles, as they look to now lead a new era and legacy in Starkville.