Matt Kreider is in his eighth year as Defensive Coordinator at Kean University, and his 10th season in Union overall. Kreider served as the Defensive line coach in 2016, and was the defensive graduate assistant from 2011-2013, where he helped lead the Cougars to their 2011 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Title.
In his first seven seasons as Defensive Coordinator, he has coached 3 All-Americans and 47 All-NJAC Defensive selections; including 2021 All-American CB Kyeon Taylor, 2019 Co-Defensive Player of the year, All-American Linebacker Dante Capozzoli, and 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, All-American Linebacker Darin Hungerford. He has also coached two NJAC Defensive Rookies of the year, 2020 Safety Tanner Ash, and 2018 Safety Anthony Bassani.
Most Recently in the 2022 Season, the Cougar Defense Ranked #35 Nationally in Scoring Defense (15.3 PPG), 17th Nationally in Team Passing Efficiency (105.77), 34th Nationally in 3rd Down Percentage (.306), and 32nd Nationally in First Downs Allowed (144).
In the 2019 season the Kean University defense finished the regular season tied for 7th in the country in turnovers, with 27 on the year (1st in NJAC), 4th in the country for fumble recoveries (14, 1st in NJAC), and as a team the Cougars were +11 in turnover margin, tied for 16th nationally and 1st the NJAC.
During the 2017 campaign, the Cougar Defense finished the year ranked #12 in the nation (261.3 YPG, #1 in NJAC) in total defense, #8 nationally in passing defense (137.7 YPG, #1 in the NJAC), and tied for #12 nationally in recovered fumbles (13).
During his time away from Kean, the Delran, NJ Native was defensive coordinator at Lakeland Regional High School and helped lead the Lancers from 2013 to 2015.
Kreider earned his master’s degree in special education from Kean’s Nathan Weiss Graduate College with Distinction in 2013. As an undergrad, he was a three-year starter and all-NJAC safety at The College of New Jersey. He was named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society and won the “Bones” Vichrowski award at TCNJ in 2011
Updated 8-30-23
