13abc.com: Breaking News, Weather and SportsRockets Add Tom Matukewicz, Stan Watson to Football Staff

TOLEDO – University of Toledo head football coach Matt Campbell announced the addition of two assistants to the Rockets' staff today. Former Northern Illinois assistant Tom Matukewicz will join the Rockets as the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach, while former Bowling Green staffer Stan Watson will coach the cornerbacks and serve as special teams coordinator.

 

"I'm very excited to add these two coaches to our staff," said Campbell. "They both are highly knowledgeable and successful coaches who have had valuable experience in the Mid-American Conference. Tom Matukewicz has been involved with very successful programs for a long time, and has experience as a coordinator at Northern Illinois. He also has tremendous recruiting ties in Illinois and around the Midwest.

 

"I played and coached with Stan Watson at Mount Union, so I know him very well. He has been a part of four national championship teams. He also has been a defensive coordinator in his career. He is an Ohio guy with very strong recruiting ties in this state."

 

 

 

Matukewicz spent the last four seasons at Northern Illinois, where he helped guide the Huskies to a MAC West title in 2010 and an outright MAC Championship this past season. Matukewicz was the linebackers' coach in 2011 after serving as defensive run-game coordinator the previous three seasons under then-head coach Jerry Kill. Matukewicz served as interim head coach for the Huskies' appearance in the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl after Kill accepted the Minnesota job at the end of the season. Matukewicz led the Huskies to a dominating 40-17 victory over Fresno State in the Humanitarian Bowl.

 

During his first three seasons at Northern Illinois, Matukewicz was responsible for coordinating the Huskies' run defense. In 2010, NIU ranked 24th nationally and third in the MAC in run defense, allowing 126.5 yards per game. Northern also boasted the No. 1 total defense in the MAC in 2008 and 2009.

 

In his first year in DeKalb, "Coach Tuke" was part of the staff which turned the Huskies into the No. 1 scoring and total defense in the MAC, and one of the top 20 units in the country. NIU boasted the second-most improved scoring defense in the nation in 2008 as they allowed 18.0 points per game, down from 30.8 the year before. NIU ranked 17th nationally in total defense and was fifth in the country in pass defense.

 

Matukewicz spent seven seasons at Southern Illinois with Kill from 2001-07. He was honored as the 2007 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association after helping turn the Salukis into one of the stingiest rushing defenses in the country. SIU held its opponents to a rushing average below 135 yards per game every year from 2002-07 as the Salukis had three of the top-10 rushing defenses in program history during that time. Matukewicz's most prolific linebacking corps played in 2004, forming the heart of a defense that gave up only 101.7 rushing yards per game, led the nation in scoring defense and allowed just 13.2 points per game.

 

Before coaching at Southern Illinois, Matukewicz was the defensive line coach at Emporia State, where he also had responsibilities as the marketing and promotions director. He has also made stops at Butler County Community College, Coffeyville Community College and Pittsburg State, where he earned his master's degree in sports management.

 

A native of Silver Lake, KS, Matukewicz completed his undergraduate work at Fort Hays State, receiving his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1997. Matukewicz and his, wife Lenna, have one daughter, Georgia (4).

 

2011                Northern Illinois  - Linebackers

2008-10           Northern Illinois - Defensive Run-Game Coordinator/Linebackers/Interim Head Coach

2001-07           Southern Illinois  - Linebackers/Defensive Run-Game Coordinator

2000-01           Emporia State - Defensive Line

1999-2000       Coffeyville C.C. - Offensive Line/Tight Ends

1997-99           Pittsburg State - Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends

1996-97           Fort Hays State - Defensive Line/Special Teams

 

2012 (2011 season)     Go-Daddy.com Bowl - Northern Illinois, Assistant Coach

2010                            Humanitarian Bowl - Northern Illinois, Interim Head Coach

2010 (2009 season)     International Bowl - Northern Illinois, Assistant Coach

2008                            Independence Bowl - Northern Illinois, Assistant Coach

2003-07                       FCS Playoffs (Southern Illinois, Assistant Coach)

 

 

 

 

Stan Watson spent the last four seasons as an assistant at Bowling Green, coaching the outside linebackers in 2011 after spending two years coaching the cornerbacks. He served as a graduate assistant for the defense in 2008.

 

This past season, Watson mentored BooBoo Gates and Keith Morgan at the rover position. Combined, the duo recorded 108 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and seven pass break-ups. Gates saw the majority of playing time, finishing second on the team with 73 tackles.

 

While coaching cornerbacks in 2010, Watson broke in two new starters at the position in Cameron Truss and Aunre' Davis. Truss made eight starts, finishing the year with two interceptions and a team-high seven pass breakups. Davis, who filled in for Truss at times, recovered a fumble in his first career start.

 

In 2009, Watson led an inexperienced cornerback group that helped the Falcon pass defense rank fourth in the MAC, allowing just 204.0 yards per game through the air. Cornerback Roger Williams led the team in interceptions with four, while Adrien Spencer returned an interception 64 yards for a touchdown in his first career start.

 

Prior to arriving at Bowling Green, Watson spent three years at Emory & Henry College, where he was the defensive coordinator for all three years. He was also responsible for the secondary in 2007 and the linebackers in 2005-2006.

 

Watson also coached at Mount Union, his alma mater, where he worked alongside Campbell for one season. In 2003, he coached the linebackers and a year later he was responsible for the defensive line. The 2004 staff included Campbell as the Purple Raiders' offensive coordinator.

 

Watson was part of four national championship teams (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) as a player at Mount Union. He was a three-time all-conference first-team selection at outside linebacker, earning All-American status in 2002 by the Football Gazette and Hewlett Packard. Watson and Campbell were teammates from 1999-2002.

 

Watson and his wife Stephanie have two children, Addison and Ross.

 

2011                Bowling Green - Outside Linebackers

2009-10           Bowling Green - Cornerbacks

2008                Bowling Green - Graduate Assistant

2007                Emory & Henry College - Defensive Coordinator/Secondary

2005-06           Emory & Henry College - Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers

2004                Mount Union - Defensive Line

2003                Mount Union - Linebackers