Matthew Passwaters was hired in February 2024 at Texas Southern to coach the Defensive Line.
Passwaters spent the 2023 season as the Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator at Midway High School in Waco, Texas where he helped guide the Panthers to a 12-6A district championship and their first playoff appearance since 2019.
During his second season at UNT, Passwaters helped guide the Defensive Line to a CUSA Championship game berth. While coaching Mazin Richards to second team All-CUSA honors, Fatafehi Vailea to 1st team All-CUSA Freshman Team along with Cameron Robertoson.
Passwaters’ first season with the Mean Green included mentoring senior Dion Novil to second team All-CUSA honors. The Abilene native finished the season with 49 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks and one interception.
Additionally, freshman Roderick Brown burst on the scene with 20 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 3.0 sack and two forced fumbles en route to being named to the CUSA All-Freshman team.
Overall, the UNT defensive line group finished second in the league with 38 sacks. Overall,. the UNT defense in 2021 posted the biggest improvement of any FBS program cutting its total yards allowed by 144.3 ypg
Prior to joining UNT, Passwaters spent the 2020 season working as a quality control assistant on the offensive side of the ball at Hawai’I on Todd Graham’s staff.
Passwaters also has experience as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, New Mexico State, on offense (2018-19) and defense (2017). He helped the Aggies reach the 2017 Arizona Bowl, the program's first bowl game in 57 years. He also has stints at New Mexico Highlands (2016), Point Loma High School (2016), Onate High School (2013-15) and Gadsden High School (2012).
Passwaters played offensive line at New Mexico State from 2008-09. He graduated from NMSU in 2015. He completed a master's degree in 2019. Passwaters and his wife Maddie have two children. Daughter Payton and their son, Eddie.
Coaching History
2012: Gadsden (NM) HS, Defensive Line
2013-15: Onate (NM) HS, Offensive Line
2016: Point Loma (CA) HS, offensive line
2016: New Mexico Highlands, Tight Ends
2017-19: New Mexico State, Graduate Assistant
2020: Hawaii, Quality Control
2021-2022: UNT, Defensive Line
2023: Midway (TX) HS, Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator
2024: Texas Southern, Defensive Line
