Matt Birkett - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Matt Birkett

Title:
Cornerbacks
Email:
birketmf@jmu.edu
Phone:
540-568-6517

Matt Birkett was hired on Dec. 29, 2018, as an assistant coach with the James Madison University football program, working primarily with the cornerbacks.

In his four seasons with the Dukes, he’s guided three Dukes to all-conference honors, including an FCS All-American corner in 2021.

During that span, the JMU defense ranked top 10 nationally in total defense in each of those seasons, including the 2022 season competing at the FBS level. The Dukes were also top 10 in scoring defense in each of their final three seasons while an FCS member.

This past season in 2022, JMU’s defense was one of the tops in both the Sun Belt Conference and Football Bowl Subdivision, helping the team to an 8-3 record and 6-2 mark in conference play to finish tied atop the East Division.

The Dukes ranked second nationally in first-down defense (13.82), fifth in third-down defense (28.4%), eighth in total defense (289.5) and 10th in takeaways (24). JMU additionally ranked 29th in scoring defense, allowing 20.9 points per game.

Following the regular season, cornerback Jordan Swann was named Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt. His position group accounted for 15 pass breakups and four interceptions to go with two fumble recoveries and a pair of forced fumbles. Swann was second for JMU with two interceptions and true freshman Chauncey Logan had a team-best 10 breakups.

In 2021, JMU led the nation in turnover margin (+1.36) and takeaways (31). Of the team’s 18 interceptions, Birkett’s corners accounted for seven, which included a team-leading four from All-American Greg Ross. Ross also had a team-high 12 pass breakups in his final season of eligibility.

During the spring 2020-21 campaign, Wesley McCormick led the Dukes with three interceptions, while Taurus Carroll had a pair. Carroll also made two more in his senior year that following fall.

In his first season with the Dukes in 2019, Birkett helped Rashad Robinson earn Second Team All-CAA honors to round out his solid career at JMU. His group made four interceptions to help the Dukes lead the league and rank seventh in the FCS with 17 picks.

Birkett came to JMU following a seven-year stint on the Maine football staff, which included five on the defensive side of the ball. He was defensive backs coach for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, while also leading the cornerbacks for three years (2014-16) and running backs (2013) and tight ends (2012) for one season each.

Over the past two years, he was part of leading Maine’s defense to ranking as one of the nation’s best at the FCS level. In 2018, the Black Bears turned in their best season in program history, winning the CAA championship, reaching the FCS semifinals for the first time ever while leading the league in six defensive categories.

Maine ranked sixth nationally with a CAA-best 18 interceptions Birkett guided Manny Patterson to First Team All-CAA and Second Team All-America status after he led the conference for the second straight year with 22 pass breakups and 25 total passes defended, which was good for third in the entire FCS. Patterson was also a Second Team selection in 2017 after tallying a CAA-high 17 breakups. He also coached freshman Katley Joseph, who ranked second in the CAA with 12 pass breakups and 13 passes defended in 2018.

In 2017, he mentored one of Maine’s most veteran units, leading the Black Bears to 11 interceptions. The 2016 season saw Najee Goode earn Third Team All-CAA honors after he ranked tied for third in the conference with three forced fumbles and nine passes defended, which included a pair of interceptions.

In 2015, he mentored a young cornerback tandem, which assisted Maine to ranking third in the CAA in total defense (316.8). Maine produced 12 interceptions, including five coming from the corners. In his first season working with the corners in 2014, he helped the Black Bears to a No. 2 ranking in the CAA in total defense, which was also 15th nationally. They also led the league and ranked eighth in the FCS in defensive pass efficiency while placing second in the league in pass defense (172.2) and producing 14 interceptions. That season produced an all-conference selection in Axel Ofori.

Birkett’s running backs rushed for 174.5 yards per game and tallied 21 scores in 2013. He guided three backs to over 500 rushing yards that season and Nigel Jones ranked tied for fifth in the CAA with eight rushing scores. In his first season on staff at Maine, Birkett coached Justin Perillo, who was an All-CAA selection and finished second on the team with five receiving touchdowns before signing a contract with the Green Bay Packers.

Birkett came to Maine following one season at Chaminade High School in California, where he was defensive backs coach, helped the team to a 10-2 record while reaching the 2011 California Interscholastic Federation semifinals. He also had stops at UCLA (2010), Pac-Five High School in Hawaii (2008-09), Rindge and Latin High School in Massachusetts (2007).

He is a 2003 graduate of Edinboro College, where he led the Scots to a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship. He also played at Rhode Island where he named the team’s co-MVP in 1999.

Birkett and his wife Sara have two sons, Justus and Massai, and two daughters, Siena and Mischa.