Matt Ulrich - Football Coach - University of Toledo Athletics

Matt Ulrich

Title:
Special Teams Coordinator
Email:
matthew.ulrich2@utoledo.edu

Matt Ulrich joined Toledo’s coaching staff as the special teams coordinator in December of 2025. The 2026 season will be Ulrich’s fifth campaign working alongside Head Coach Mike Jacobs.

Ulrich’s special teams were key to Mercer’s run to the quarterfinals of the NCAA FCS Playoffs in 2024 as the Bears were 20th in the nation in punt returns (12.22 yards/return), while also allowing just 5.72 yards/return (25th in the NCAA). Return specialist Brayden Smith earned a pair of All-American awards, totaling 861 total yards.

Prior to his stint at Mercer, Ulrich spent two seasons at Eastern Washington (2022-23) as the defensive line coach. EWU limited five opponents to 156 rushing yards or fewer during the 2023 season, including holding Idaho State to just 49 yards on the ground.

Ulrich served three seasons as the co-defensive coordinator at NCAA Division II powerhouse Winona State, helping lead one of the nation’s top rush defenses. In 2021, the Warriors gave up just 97.4 yards per game to opponents, a mark that ranked 17^th in the NCAA. Winona State held opponents to 100 rushing yards or less 16 times from 2018-21, including six times across Ulrich’s final season on the WSU sidelines.

Ulrich began his coaching career as the defensive line coach for Winona State in 2012 before joining the Notre Dame (Ohio) staff as a graduate assistant defensive line coach for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Following one season as a defensive quality control assistant at UC Davis, he returned to Notre Dame as the special teams coordinator for the 2016-17 campaigns.

An impressive playing career at Winona State, Ulrich saw action in 44 games from 2007-11, totaling 112 career tackles (49 solo) including 19.5 tackles for loss. A four-year starter, he was a three-time all-conference performer and was named an All-American following his senior season.

Ulrich earned his bachelor's degree in marketing at Winona State in 2011 and completed his master’s in education at Notre Dame (Ohio) in 2015. Ulrich and his wife Megan have one son, Ty.