MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University football coach Dana Holgorsen has announced that Matt Caponi will join the Mountaineer coaching staff as an assistant coach, handling the safeties.
“Matt is an energetic coach and recruiter who will be a good addition to our defensive staff,” Holgorsen said. “Having already worked with Tony Gibson, he has a familiarity with our defensive system that should serve him well. I look forward to welcoming him and his fiancée, Kathleen, to the Mountaineer family.”
Caponi comes to West Virginia after serving as the safeties coach at Arizona for the past four years, first as a graduate assistant in 2012 and the past three years as a full-time coach. He rejoins Gibson after spending the 2011 season with him on the defensive staff at Pitt and the 2012 staff at Arizona.
“It’s great to be on the West Virginia coaching staff, working for Coach Dana Holgorsen and being reunited with Coach Gibson,” Caponi said. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about West Virginia. Being able to have the opportunity to help this program get to the level where it wants to be and win championships is what makes this job attractive.”
Caponi
In 2014, he coached All-Pac 12 honoree, Jared Tevis, who finished second on the team in tackles and fourth in the conference with 120. He also had nine tackles for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
In 2013, Arizona safeties accounted for almost a third of the Wildcats total tackles and had five interception returns for touchdowns, tied for most among FBS schools. The UA defense had 18 interceptions, the most since totaling 16 in 2008.
Before he arrived at Arizona, he spent one year as a graduate assistant at Pitt (2011) and was the defensive coordinator at Washington & Jefferson for three years (2008-11).
At Washington & Jefferson, Caponi worked with the linebackers in 2010 and oversaw the secondary for three years (2006-09). While he was on staff in 2008, the Presidents advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA National Tournament.
He started his coaching career in 2004 as a student assistant at Mount Union and was the JV Coordinator and linebackers coach in 2005.
Caponi played for national powerhouse Mount Union, helping the Raiders to a 55-1 record and three NCAA Division III national championships. He was a team captain, a starting safety and earned second team all-conference honors as a senior.
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native graduated from Mount Union with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 2005. He is engaged to Kathleen Coyne and the couple plan to be married this summer.
