Football
- Title:
- Defensive Analyst
Matt Ellerbrock rejoined the University of Houston in January 2022 as its Defensive Analyst where he works with linebackers after spending January 2019-August 2021 with the program as a Defensive Graduate Assistant where his focus was linebackers and safeties. In his career, Ellerbrock has coached in five bowl games including help lead the Cougars to a victory in the 2022 Independence Bowl over Louisiana.
With the help of Ellerbrock, under the direction of Linebackers Coach Archie McDaniel, senior linebacker Donavan Mutin led the Cougars with 85 tackles during the 2022 season. The Spring, Texas, native capped his career with 252 tackles. Mutin's 245 tackles since the start of the 2019 season ranked seventh among all American Athletic Conference linebackers.
Linebackers Mannie Nunnery and Jamal Morris also turned in strong sophomore campaigns during 2022. Nunnery's 74.2 overall defensive grade by PFF ranked second among American Athletic Conference underclassmen linebackers. He also paced the league's underclassmen with a 78.2 coverage grade. Morris was key for the Cougars down the stretch, totaling 10 tackles against SMU on Nov. 5 and eight tackles in Houston's Independence Bowl victory against Louisiana.
Ellerbrock came to Houston following one season (2021) as Linebackers Coach at McNeese where he tutored First-Team All-Southland Conference honoree Kordell Williams who ranked seventh nationally with 5.8 tackles per game.
He spent two seasons at Arkansas State as the program's Defensive Graduate where he worked with linebackers and safeties. It was there where he helped coach the Red Wolves to become one of the toughest defenses in the air, finishing the season 11th nationally in passing defense, allowing only 177.8 passing yards per game.
In his first season at Arkansas State, Ellerbrock helped lead the Red Wolves to an 8-5 overall record, a Sun Belt Conference championship with a 7-1 league record and a 31-13 victory over UCF in the 2016 Cure Bowl.
A four-year starter on the Midwestern State football team who helped lead the program to three Lone Star Conference championships, Ellerbrock arrived at Arkansas State after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Stephen F. Austin from 2014-15. During his time with SFA, he helped coach a student-athlete to First Team All-Southland Conference honors.
Prior to SFA, Ellerbrock spent the 2013 season as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Midwestern State. He helped coach a student-athlete to All-Lone Star Conference recognition during his only season with the Mustangs.
As a player at Midwestern State, Ellerbrock was a two-time Honorable Mention All-Lone Star Conference performer who started 44 of 46 career games at linebacker. He recorded 231 career tackles including 28 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He never finished lower than fourth on the MSU tackles chart during any season with the Mustangs.
The Mustangs captain his senior season, Ellerbrock was named Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the LSC championship-clinching win at No. 12 West Texas A&M. His performances led MSU to LSC championships in 2009, 2011 and 2012, and to postseason play every year.
Ellerbrock earned his bachelor's degree in sport and fitness management from Midwestern State University in 2012. He earned his master's degree at Stephen F. Austin State University in secondary education in May 2016.
Ellerbrock and his wife Samatha have one daughter, Ariella.
