North Texas To Hire Baylor Defensive Coordinator Matthew Powledge For Same Position

North Texas, under first-year head coach Neal Brown, has hired Baylor defensive coordinator Matthew Powledge for the same position, according to David Smoak; SicEm365’s Colt Barber first hinted at the possibility earlier this evening.

The Huntsville, Texas native was Baylor’s safeties coach and special teams coordinator in 2020-21 before heading to Oregon as the safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator. He returned to Waco to be the safeties coach and defensive coordinator in 2023.

Powledge played at Sam Houston and was a serious option during the Bearcats’ coaching search last offseason; he was named to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 40 Under 40 this year.

Although head coach Dave Aranda called the plays on defense, the Bears were toward the bottom of the Big 12 in every category, allowing 32.6 points per game, 197.2 rushing yards per game, 194.9 passing yards per game and an opponent third-down conversion rate of 41%. Baylor was dead last in the conference in fumbles recovered (2) and sacks (12).

Baylor’s defense has been among the worst in the Power Four across the last three years, according to ESPN’s SP+. In 2023, the Bears were 103rd in team defense, 63rd in 2024 and 108th in 2025.

It’s expected that with Aranda being retained, the Bears will hire an experienced defensive coordinator, and play-calling duties will rest with the newly hired DC.