Football
Ulrich, Matt
Matt Ulrich
- Title:
- Special Teams Coordinator
- Alma Mater:
- Winona State, 2012
- Office Phone:
- (478) 301-4618
- Email:
- ulrich_m@mercer.edu
A 12-year coaching veteran with previous stops at three other collegiate institutions, Matt Ulrich begins his second year at Mercer in 2025-26, as well as his fourth season alongside head coach Mike Jacobs, as the special teams coordinator for the Bears. Ulrich joined the coaching staff in Macon in February 2024 after spending the previous two seasons as the defensive line coach at Eastern Washington.
Mercer’s special teams units were key in its run to the quarterfinals round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 2024 as the Bears boasted the nation’s 20th-ranked punt return team (12.22 yards/return), while also allowing just 5.72 yards per return (25th NCAA) on the other side of the ball. All-American Brayden Smith ranked fourth among the nation’s most electric return specialists while totaling 861 combined kick return yards. MU yielded just 18.4 yards per kickoff return (35th NCAA) as well.
A trio of specialists were decorated with all-conference accolades following the 2024 campaign, including return specialist Brayden Smith who went on to claim a pair of all-America awards. Punter John McConnell and field goal/PAT specialist Reice Griffith were awarded all-league crowns as well.
Eastern Washington’s defensive linemen thrived under Ulrich’s tutelage during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns as his unit raked in a pair of all-conference accolades in just his first season in Cheney, Wash. EWU limited five opponents to 156 rushing yards or fewer during the 2023 season which played a key role in back-to-back wins over nationally-ranked opponents in mid-September, but the finest performance on the defensive front for the Eagles came two weeks later when their stop unit held Idaho State to just 49 yards on the ground.
Prior to trekking to the west coast, Ulrich served four years (three seasons) as the co-defensive coordinator at NCAA Division II power Winona State. While in Minnesota, he helped engineer one of the nation’s most unforgiving rush defenses, including a 2021 campaign that watched the Warriors yield just 97.4 yards per game (17th NCAA) to opposing ground attacks. Winona State held opponents to 100 rushing yards or less 16 times from 2018-21, including six occasions across Ulrich’s final season on the WSU sidelines.
Ulrich mentored 16 all-conference selections while at Winona State, including linebacker Carter Duxbury who went on to capture conference defensive player of the year laurels in 2021, while also grabbing a spot on both the Associated Press and National Football Coaches Association All-America teams.
Ulrich transitioned into the coaching world as the defensive line coach for Winona State in 2012, before joining the staff at Notre Dame (Ohio) as a graduate assistant defensive line coach for both the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Following a one-season stint as a defensive quality control assistant at UC Davis, he returned to South Euclid, Ohio, as special teams coordinator during the 2016 season, before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator for the Falcons in time for the 2017 campaign.
Ulrich turned in an illustrious playing career at Winona State as well, logging time in 44 games from 2007-11, while amassing 112 career tackles (49 solo), including 19-1/2 tackles for loss (6-1/2 sacks). A 4-year starter, he was a three-time all-conference performer and was named an all-American after his senior campaign. He also earned an invitation to participate in the Minnesota Vikings Rookie Camp prior to the 2012 NFL season.
Ulrich earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing at Winona State in 2011, and completed his graduate work in education at Notre Dame (Ohio) in 2015. Matt and his wife, Megan, have one son, Ty.
Mercer’s special teams units were key in its run to the quarterfinals round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 2024 as the Bears boasted the nation’s 20th-ranked punt return team (12.22 yards/return), while also allowing just 5.72 yards per return (25th NCAA) on the other side of the ball. All-American Brayden Smith ranked fourth among the nation’s most electric return specialists while totaling 861 combined kick return yards. MU yielded just 18.4 yards per kickoff return (35th NCAA) as well.
A trio of specialists were decorated with all-conference accolades following the 2024 campaign, including return specialist Brayden Smith who went on to claim a pair of all-America awards. Punter John McConnell and field goal/PAT specialist Reice Griffith were awarded all-league crowns as well.
Eastern Washington’s defensive linemen thrived under Ulrich’s tutelage during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns as his unit raked in a pair of all-conference accolades in just his first season in Cheney, Wash. EWU limited five opponents to 156 rushing yards or fewer during the 2023 season which played a key role in back-to-back wins over nationally-ranked opponents in mid-September, but the finest performance on the defensive front for the Eagles came two weeks later when their stop unit held Idaho State to just 49 yards on the ground.
Prior to trekking to the west coast, Ulrich served four years (three seasons) as the co-defensive coordinator at NCAA Division II power Winona State. While in Minnesota, he helped engineer one of the nation’s most unforgiving rush defenses, including a 2021 campaign that watched the Warriors yield just 97.4 yards per game (17th NCAA) to opposing ground attacks. Winona State held opponents to 100 rushing yards or less 16 times from 2018-21, including six occasions across Ulrich’s final season on the WSU sidelines.
Ulrich mentored 16 all-conference selections while at Winona State, including linebacker Carter Duxbury who went on to capture conference defensive player of the year laurels in 2021, while also grabbing a spot on both the Associated Press and National Football Coaches Association All-America teams.
Ulrich transitioned into the coaching world as the defensive line coach for Winona State in 2012, before joining the staff at Notre Dame (Ohio) as a graduate assistant defensive line coach for both the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Following a one-season stint as a defensive quality control assistant at UC Davis, he returned to South Euclid, Ohio, as special teams coordinator during the 2016 season, before being promoted to co-defensive coordinator for the Falcons in time for the 2017 campaign.
Ulrich turned in an illustrious playing career at Winona State as well, logging time in 44 games from 2007-11, while amassing 112 career tackles (49 solo), including 19-1/2 tackles for loss (6-1/2 sacks). A 4-year starter, he was a three-time all-conference performer and was named an all-American after his senior campaign. He also earned an invitation to participate in the Minnesota Vikings Rookie Camp prior to the 2012 NFL season.
Ulrich earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing at Winona State in 2011, and completed his graduate work in education at Notre Dame (Ohio) in 2015. Matt and his wife, Megan, have one son, Ty.
| THE ULRICH FILE | |
| Coaching Experience | |
| 2012 | Winona State (Assistant Coach/Defensive Line) |
| 2013-14 | Notre Dame, Ohio (Graduate Assistant Coach/Defensive Line) |
| 2015 | UC Davis (Assistant Coach/Defensive Quality Control) |
| 2016 | Notre Dame, Ohio (Assistant Coach/Special Teams) |
| 2017 | Notre Dame, Ohio (Assistant Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator) |
| 2018-21 | Winona State (Assistant Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator) |
| 2022-23 | Eastern Washington (Assistant Coach/Defensive Line) |
| 2024-Present | Mercer (Assistant Coach/Special Teams) |
| Playing Experience | |
| All-American defensive tackle for Winona State (2007-11). Three-time all-conference selection, and 2010 conference preseason player of the year. | |
| Education | |
| Bachelor's degree in marketing (Winona State, 2011); Master's degree in education (Notre Dame College, 2015). | |
| Family | |
| Wife, Megan, and son, Ty | |
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