Texas hires James Madison assistant special teams coordinator Matt Moran

Texas Hires James Madison Assistant Special Teams Coordinator Matt Moran

In a significant move aimed at bolstering the special teams unit, the Texas Longhorns have hired Matt Moran, the assistant special teams coordinator from James Madison University, to join their staff. This hiring comes in the wake of Texas’ growing need to address and improve their special teams, an often underappreciated but critical facet of the game. With the Longhorns’ pursuit of excellence across all three phases of the game—offense, defense, and special teams—Moran’s arrival signals a new focus on making special teams a more consistent and reliable part of Texas’ football operations.

Special teams, despite being a pivotal part of any successful football program, are frequently overshadowed by the star power of the offense and defense. However, it has become increasingly clear that championship-caliber teams are built on strong special teams play. Whether it’s a well-executed punt return, a game-changing field goal block, or sound coverage units, special teams can swing the momentum of a game, sometimes with little warning and in the most pivotal moments. As Texas continues to chase titles and national prominence, fixing the inconsistencies on special teams has become a priority for head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns’ coaching staff.

The hiring of Moran reflects the program’s commitment to enhancing its special teams and adding a coach who has proven his ability to elevate special teams units. In this article, we’ll explore why Texas made this move, the background of Matt Moran, what he brings to the team, and the potential impact on the Longhorns’ special teams heading into the upcoming season.

Why Texas Needed to Focus on Special Teams

The decision to bring in a new assistant coach for special teams stems from the growing need for improvement in this crucial area. Over the past few seasons, Texas has experienced its fair share of struggles in special teams play. Whether it’s been missed field goals, poor kick coverage, or failed return opportunities, the Longhorns have lacked the consistency that championship teams typically exhibit in the third phase of the game.

In particular, Texas’ field goal and extra-point unit has been inconsistent, with missed kicks costing the team points at inopportune moments. The return game, too, has been underwhelming, failing to provide the spark needed to flip field position or generate a big play in crucial situations. Additionally, penalties on special teams have been a recurring issue, negating big plays and putting extra pressure on the offense to recover lost field position.

Given these shortcomings, it became clear that Texas needed to invest in an experienced coach to oversee the special teams unit and address these persistent issues. While Steve Sarkisian has proven himself as an offensive-minded coach, the challenges facing Texas on special teams required a dedicated specialist who could bring fresh perspectives, new techniques, and a structured approach to this unit.

The Hire: Matt Moran’s Background

The hiring of Matt Moran is one that has generated considerable excitement in the Texas football community, as Moran has built a strong reputation for his work in special teams. Moran arrives in Austin after a successful tenure at James Madison University, where he served as the assistant special teams coordinator. Under his leadership, James Madison’s special teams became one of the top units in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). His work at James Madison earned him widespread recognition, and his ability to get the most out of his players on special teams was one of the driving forces behind the team’s sustained success during his time there.

Before his time at James Madison, Moran honed his craft with stints at various programs, including coaching special teams at Western Kentucky University and Ball State University. His experience coaching at different levels of college football has provided him with a well-rounded skill set and a deep understanding of how to build and execute strong special teams units. At James Madison, Moran was instrumental in the development of dynamic return specialists, blockers, and coverage units. His emphasis on disciplined technique, timing, and cohesion between all elements of special teams paid dividends for the program, and it’s this approach that Texas hopes to implement in its own unit.

Moran’s coaching style focuses on several key aspects of special teams play: precision, preparation, and consistency. His focus on technique and development is complemented by his ability to motivate players to perform at their best in high-pressure moments, which is crucial for success in special teams situations. Moran’s track record at James Madison, where his units consistently ranked among the best in the FCS in both return yards and coverage efficiency, makes him an ideal choice to help Texas take the next step in its special teams development.

What Matt Moran Brings to Texas

With Moran now on board, the Texas Longhorns are expected to see immediate improvements in their special teams play. Here are a few key areas where Moran’s influence will likely make an immediate impact:

1. Special Teams Consistency

Consistency has been one of the Longhorns’ biggest struggles in special teams, especially in crucial moments. Whether it’s executing field goals, kicking off, or covering punts, Texas has had inconsistent performances that have cost them valuable points or field position. Moran’s coaching philosophy emphasizes developing a high level of precision and consistency in each aspect of special teams.

By focusing on the fundamentals—such as proper footwork, hand placement, and body positioning—Moran will look to improve the reliability of the field goal and extra-point units, as well as ensure that coverage units are sound and disciplined. His ability to develop a “next-man-up” mentality will be key in preventing lapses in performance, ensuring that every player on the special teams roster is prepared to step in and contribute when needed.

2. Return Game Development

One of the key areas where Texas has struggled in recent seasons is the return game. The Longhorns have had difficulties finding a consistent and explosive returner who can flip the field and change the momentum of a game. Moran, with his experience developing dynamic return units, will play a crucial role in fixing this issue.

At James Madison, Moran coached several return specialists who were known for their speed, vision, and ability to make defenders miss in the open field. His work with kick returners and punt returners will be crucial in identifying and developing a player who can provide that spark for Texas. Whether it’s a running back, wide receiver, or defensive back, Moran’s ability to fine-tune players’ technique and improve their decision-making on returns will be a game-changer for Texas’ special teams.

3. Coverage Unit Improvement

The Longhorns have also struggled with coverage units in recent years. Allowing long returns on punts or kickoffs has given opposing teams favorable field position and has occasionally led to game-changing plays. Moran will bring a structured approach to fixing the coverage teams, focusing on sound tackling, positioning, and alignment to eliminate missed assignments and ensure that the coverage unit performs efficiently.

His emphasis on fundamental technique will improve the consistency of Texas’ coverage teams, allowing the Longhorns to pin opponents deep and avoid giving up easy yardage. Moran will also likely implement schemes that maximize the talent of his players, allowing Texas to pressure returners and shut down opposing return games.

4. Discipline and Mistake Reduction

Penalties have plagued Texas’ special teams, with flags for holding, illegal blocks, and other infractions often negating big plays or putting the team at a disadvantage. Moran’s experience coaching disciplined special teams units at James Madison will help mitigate these mistakes. His coaching style emphasizes attention to detail, and his ability to instill a sense of responsibility and accountability in his players will be crucial in reducing costly penalties.

By improving players’ awareness of the rules and ensuring that everyone on special teams is disciplined in their actions, Moran can help Texas avoid giving up free yards or negating big plays, which can often be the difference between winning and losing close games.

The Bigger Picture: What This Means for Texas Football

The hire of Matt Moran is part of a larger effort by Steve Sarkisian and the Texas football program to build a more complete and well-rounded team. As the Longhorns look to return to the top of the Big 12 and make a run at the College Football Playoff, having a reliable special teams unit is essential. The added focus on special teams under Moran’s guidance should make a big difference in the team’s overall performance.

With Texas’ offensive and defensive units already strong, an improvement in special teams could make the Longhorns a far more dangerous and well-rounded team. Special teams can often be the difference in close games, and Texas fans will be hoping that Moran’s arrival leads to a noticeable improvement in this crucial phase of the game.

Conclusion

The hiring of Matt Moran as Texas’ assistant special teams coordinator is a move that could pay dividends for the Longhorns in the years to come. Moran’s proven track record of developing strong special teams units at James Madison, combined with his disciplined approach and attention to detail, makes him an excellent fit for Texas as they look to enhance their special teams play. Whether it’s improving the return game, coverage units, or field goal efficiency, Moran’s influence will be felt immediately. With Texas continuing its pursuit of greatness under Steve Sarkisian, strengthening special teams could be the key to turning potential into championship-level performance. For Texas fans, the future of special teams looks bright under Matt Moran’s leadership.