Marc Mattioli joined Vandy’s defensive staff in 2015, and the 2020 season is his sixth as the Commodores’ defensive secondary coach.
In 2019, three of Mattioli’s young safeties — Tae Daley, Deshaun Jerkins and Brendon Harris — ranked among the Commodores’ top four tackles, with each producing more than 50 stops. Additionally, Daley topped the team and ranked among Southeastern Conference leaders with three interceptions.
In 2018, Mattioli developed LaDarius Wiley, Frank Coppet and Daley into productive starting safeties. The trio ranked among Vanderbilt’s top-10 tackles during the season. Wiley, a two-year starter, eventually signed an NFL undrafted free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans. Daley and Coppet, both seeing significant collegiate action for the first time, registered 45 and 30 tackles, respectively. Coppet also ranked second on the team with three interceptions.
Wiley is Mattioli’s second understudy to move to the next level. Mattioli also coached two-year starting cornerback Tre Herndon, who made the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2018-19 active roster after signing as a rookie free agent.
Mattioli started with the Commodores in 2014 as safeties coach, coming from Stanford where he served as a defensive graduate assistant and defensive quality control assistant for the Cardinal.
Mattioli was a defensive quality control assistant for the Cardinal secondary in 2014, focusing his efforts on the Stanford secondary. In 2012-13, he served as a defensive graduate assistant at Stanford, helping the Cardinal as a defensive backs and safeties mentor.
In 2014, Stanford finished second nationally in scoring defense, third in total defense, and eighth in passing defense. The Cardinal did not allow a touchdown pass in five games, and permitted just one score via the pass in four other games. The Stanford defense also posted as many interceptions (12) as touchdown passes allowed.
The 2014 Cardinal secondary was led senior strong safety Jordan Richards with three interceptions and three forced fumbles. A first team All-Pac 12 selection as a senior, Richards also was awarded the 2014 National Football Foundation’s Scholar-Athlete Award. Richards finished with nine career interceptions.
Mattioli also worked with highly ranked Stanford defenses as a graduate assistant in 2012 and 2013. The Cardinal ranked 10th nationally in scoring defense during a run to the Rose Bowl in 2013, and led the Pac-12 in scoring defense and total defense 2012 campaign that included another Rose Bowl appearance and conference title.
Mattioli has strong ties to the South. Prior to joining the Stanford staff, Mattioli served two seasons as the defensive line coach for LaGrange College southwest of Atlanta.
A native of Rochester, New York, Mattioli played tight end as a freshman at Rhodes College before transitioning to the defensive line for his final three campaigns. He served as team captain as a senior in 2008, and was part of the 2006 Rhodes defense that ranked fifth nationally.
He earned Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic honors four times. Mattioli was the National Foundation and College Hall of Fame Outstanding Student-Athlete Award recipient for Rhodes and was an all-SCAC choice in 2006 and 2008.
Mattioli graduated from Rhodes with a degree in political science. He also earned a master’s degree from LaGrange College and was working toward another master’s degree in liberal arts at Stanford.
The Mattioli File
2016-present – Vanderbilt – Defensive Secondary Coach
2015 – Vanderbilt – Safeties Coach
2014 – Stanford – Quality Control Secondary
2012-13 – Stanford – Graduate Assistant Defense