NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State head coach Latrell Scott announced Tuesday that Matt Dawson has been hired as the Spartans’ new defensive coordinator.
Dawson spent the last two seasons as linebackers coach at Rhode Island, a position he will also be responsible for at NSU. Dawson also served as defensive coordinator at Virginia State in 2013, Scott’s first season as head coach of the Trojans.
“We’re fortunate to have a coach of Matt’s caliber join us to coordinate our defense,” Scott said. “We won a (CIAA) division championship together at Virginia State. I also had the opportunity to coach against him in the CAA and know that he is a bright, skilled coach who will work well with our players.”
In 2015 at URI, Dawson oversaw one of the Rams’ stronger units. Linebacker Adam Parker earned All-CAA second-team honors after finishing second on the team in tackles. In his first season, Dawson’s coached All-CAA first-team selection Andrew Bose, who led the league with 125 tackles. Bose and Parker were the team’s top two tacklers, as Parker had 102 stops. After the season, Bose signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent.
Dawson spent the 2013 season as the Virginia State defensive coordinator, spearheading a defensive effort that led to Virginia State winning its division title. After being picked 10th in the 12-team CIAA in the preseason coaches’ poll, Virginia State went 9-1, including a perfect 7-0 mark in conference play. Dawson’s defense allowed just 17.4 points and 94.9 rushing yards per game while forcing 21 turnovers in 10 games. The Trojans won the league’s Northern Division title and were ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Division II Super One Region.
Three of Dawson’s players – defensive backs Sean Smith and Virginoir Loiseau and defensive lineman Ronald Lewis – earned All-CIAA honors that season. Linebacker Geo Feggins was named to the league’s all-rookie team.
Dawson served as the defensive coordinator for Monroe College in 2012, and before that he held the same position for two seasons at Fordham. Dawson coached the linebackers and was the special teams coordinator for New Hampshire in 2009. As a graduate assistant, he was an assistant defensive line coach at Oregon from March 2007 through February 2009. He also spent time coaching at Massachusetts (his alma mater) and Central Connecticut State.
Dawson earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management from Massachusetts in 2001. While a three-year starter at linebacker, he helped the Minutemen win the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship and the 1999 Atlantic 10 title. A native of Pepperell, Mass., Dawson finished his Minutemen career with 250 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and 11 pass deflections.
Dawson replaces Jerry Holmes on the NSU staff.
Originally posted on NSUSpartans.com.
Spartan Echo 