Eastern Washington University head football coach
Aaron Best has announced the addition of
Matt Ulrich to his staff (April 4). Ulrich will serve as the defensive line coach, taking over for
Jeff Copp who is now EWU's defensive coordinator.
Ulrich comes to Cheney after completing his co-defensive coordinator duties at his alma mater, Winona State University. He has had previous stops at Notre Dame College and UC Davis.
Ulrich has served as the co-defensive coordinator at Winona State University since January of 2018 before joining the Eagles. He earned his Bachelor's degree in marketing at Winona State in Winona, Minn., in 2011 after a standout playing career. He also served as an assistant defensive line coach for the Warriors from July 2012 to February 2013.
During the 2021 season, Ulrich coached the No. 17 ranked rushing defense and saw Carter Duxbury earned First Team AP and AFCA All-America status. He also coached Duxbury to first team All-Region honors and he was the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year. In 2019, the Warriors were ranked fourth in interceptions under Ulrich, and ranked second in defensive touchdowns in 2018.
Prior to Winona State, Ulrich was the special teams coordinator at Notre Dame College in June of 2016 before taking over co-defensive coordinator duties in April 2017. He coached two first team All-MEC honorees, along with a second-team and two honorable mention recipients. Ulrich earned his Master's degree from Notre Dame College in 2015, serving as a graduate assistant coaching the linebackers and strong safeties for two seasons beginning in 2013.
During his playing days at Winona State, he twice earned first team All-NSIC honors, was a two-time Defensive Lineman of the Year, and was the conference's preseason Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. He participated in the Minnesota Vikings' Rookie Camp in 2012.
The Eagles are gearing up to start Spring practices tomorrow (April 5) at 3 p.m. Eastern will practice 15 times throughout the month of April, capped by the Red-White game on Saturday, April 30. Eastern Washington also welcomes back six former players for Pro Day on campus on Wednesday, April 6, at 10 a.m.
