Matt Wallerstedt enters his sixth season with the Miners in 2023 and his third as associate head coach. He took over as defensive line coach for the 2019 season after serving as the defensive quality control coach in 2018.
Wallerstedt's defensive line accounted for 18.5 of the Miners' 28.0 sacks in 2022. Jadrian Taylor led the charge with a Conference USA-high and team best 9.5 sacks in 2022. Taylor tied 15th nationally in sacks.
Taylor was named first team All-CUSA, while Praise Amaewhule earned a second team All-CUSA honor. Amaewhule chipped in with 2.0 sacks and 5.5 TFL, while leading the team with eight QB hurries. Kelton Moss concluded his career with 1.5 sacks, while transfer Bryton Thompson jump started his UTEP career with 3.5 sacks. Jalen Rudolph (1.0 sack), Keenan Stewart (0.5) and Sione Tonga'uiha (0.5) all got in on the sack attack.
At Charlotte, the Miners tallied a season-high 5.0 sacks led by Taylor's 3.0. UTEP registered 4.0 sacks against MT, and 4.0 more at UTSA. Taylor also provided one of the biggest highlights of the season against the 49ers when the 250-pound defensive lineman scooped up a fumble and rumbled 100 yards to the end zone. Taylor's TD was part of a pair by the Miners' defense.
Cal Wallerstedt, Matt's son, started the season as the fourth-string linebacker, tied for the team lead with 95 tackles, while ranking second on the squad with 8.0 sacks. The Harrisburg, N.C., product led the Miners with 14.5 tackles for loss (52 yards), while rating third in CUSA. Wallerstedt saw his first real action at the linebacker position on the big stage at no. 9 OU where he tallied 1.0 sack with five tackles.
The defense as a group came up with dominating performances, thrashing FIU, 40-6. The D only yielded 71 yards of total offense, the least allowed by a UTEP defense since 2014. The Miners also came up with another great effort, holding Boise State to only 177 yards of total offense during a 27-10 upset over the Broncos.
In 2021, Wallerstedt mentored a defensive line that accounted for 17.0 of UTEP’s 25.0 sacks. Those efforts helped lead the Miners to the New Mexico Bowl, while finishing with their first winning overall record in seven seasons.
First team All-Conference USA performer defensive end Praise Amaewhule ranked second on the team with 5.5 sacks, while producing team highs in QB hurries (10), tackles for loss (13.0) and forced fumbles (three). One of Amaewhule’s forced fumbles led to a Breon Hayward touchdown at Southern Miss. Amaewhule added 39 tackles to lead all UTEP defensive linemen.
Jadrian Taylor, who plays opposite of Amaewhule, led the team with 6.5 sacks and ranked sixth in C-USA in that department. Taylor, an honorable mention All-C-USA player, added 33 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and eight QB hurries.
Defensive tackles Keenan Stewart and Kelton Moss were tabbed honorable mention All-C-USA after combining for 58 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and a QB hurry each. Stewart registered 2.0 sacks on the season while Moss recorded a key fumble recovery during UTEP’s come-from-behind win against rival New Mexico.
The defensive line had a deep rotation as Blake Thompson contributed with 17 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and a QB sack. He also tallied two pass breakups, a fumble recovery and forced fumble. Josh Ortega tallied a sack for a loss of 12 yards and added 16 tackles in his final season at UTEP. Deylon Williams produced a sack and recorded 14 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss in a reserve role. Other key players on the line included Sione Tonga’uiha (11 tackles in 2021), Tevita Tafune (11 tackles) and Jalen Rudolph (3.5 TFL).
The line played a critical role in UTEP's 2020 defensive resurgence. The Miners ended the season with 47 tackles for losses and 13 sacks, exceeding their totals from the 2019 campaign, when they played five more games. UTEP rated 39th nationally in rushing defense, and 46th in total defense.
A trio of junior college transfers -- Kelton Moss, Keenan Stewart and Jadrian Taylor -- fueled UTEP's defensive turnaround. Moss and Stewart were inserted into the starting lineup at the defensive tackle position and combined for 54 tackles, 10 tackles for losses and six quarterback hurries. Taylor started four of the last six games at defensive end.
Another key to the Miners' defensive success was the continued progression of end Praise Amaewhule. The sophomore earned second team All-Conference USA honors after putting up monster numbers -- eight tackles for losses, seven sacks, nine pass breakups and four quarterback hurries. He ranked 13th nationally with 0.88 sacks per game.
Wallerstedt coached another second team All-Conference USA defensive end, Denzel Chukwukelu, in 2019. Chukwukelu tied for the team lead in tackles for losses (5.5) and sacks (three). Meanwhile, Amaewhule made the Conference USA All-Freshman Team (as a true freshman) while posting 5.5 tackles for losses and three sacks.
In 2018, Wallerstedt's efforts aided in the Miners ranking 68th nationally in total defense (394.7 average per game) and 34th in passing yards allowed (198.9 average per game).
Wallerstedt is a veteran coach with more than a quarter century of coaching experience and previously served as the defensive coordinator for Charlotte from 2015-17.
During the 2017 season, Wallerstedt mentored All-Conference USA honorable mention player Ben DeLuca. The sophomore led the 49ers defense with 102 tackles, six pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles. DeLuca finished the season ranked first in the league in fumbles forced and fumble recoveries. The defensive back also checked in at no. 4 in C-USA in tackles. Previously, he was named 2016 Pro Football Focus All-America Freshman and C-USA All-Freshman.
In 2016, the 49ers ranked third in Conference USA in rushing defense (143.4 yards per game) and eighth in scoring defense (34.6 points per game). The 49ers' numbers improved over the final seven games as Charlotte posted its first three C-USA wins. Headlining the defense was Larry Ogunjobi, who became the first 49er selected in an NFL Draft. The All-C-USA first team lineman was chosen by the Cleveland Browns as the first pick of the third round (65th overall). Fellow lineman Brandon Banks signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent. Rounding out the postseason awards was linebacker Tyriq Harris earning C-USA All-Freshman honors.
In his first season with the 49ers, which coincided with the 49ers' first year at the FBS level as a member of Conference USA, Wallerstedt oversaw a defense that ranked fourth in the league in pass defense and eighth in total defense. Charlotte was also sixth in opponents third-down conversions and fifth in red zone defense. Ogunjobi became one of the 49ers' first two players to earn All-Conference USA honors. Ogunjobi ranked second in C-USA with 14.5 tackles for loss.
Wallerstedt spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Texas Tech (2013-14) under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. During the 2013 season, the Red Raiders went 8-5 overall, including a Holiday Bowl win versus no. 16 Arizona State. Texas Tech ranked third in the Big 12 in pass defense (217.1 yards per game). Senior Will Smith finished the season ranked third in the league in tackles (120) and 11th in sacks (0.35 average per game). Teammate Kerry Hyder garnered All-Big 12 Second Team honors.
Prior to joining Texas Tech, he spent one year as linebackers coach at Texas A&M. Wallerstedt helped the Aggies to an 11-2 record and a victory over Oklahoma in the AT&T Cotton Bowl. Linebackers Jonathan Stewart and Steven Jenkins rated second and third on the team in total tackles with 81 and 79, respectively. Stewart also tallied seven quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and 2.5 sacks. Jenkins led the team in assisted stops with 44.
Wallerstedt was at Air Force for four seasons (2008-11). He was promoted to defensive coordinator and associate head coach (2010-11). In 2009, Wallerstedt served as the co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the Falcons. In his first season at Air Force, Wallerstedt was the assistant head coach. Wallerstedt also mentored the inside linebackers in each season at Air Force. Wallerstedt helped direct the Falcons to four bowl games - Military Bowl (2011), Independence Bowl (2010) and Armed Forces Bowl (2008 & 2009). Wallerstedt mentored 2011 All-Mountain West Conference first team honoree Jon Davis.
Prior to joining Air Force, he spent two seasons at his alma mater, Kansas State, as the linebackers coach, special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator. In 2006, K-State produced its first winning season since 2003. The Wildcats went to the Texas Bowl that season.
He also had a two-year stint at Akron as the associate head coach, special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. Wallerstedt helped lead the Zips to their only conference championship in 2005. Akron claimed the MAC East Division title with a 31-30 victory over Northern Illinois. The Zips went on to play in their first bowl, the Motor City Bowl.
In 2003, Wallerstedt was named the defensive coordinator at North Alabama. The Lions advanced to the national semifinals and finished 13-1 overall.
Wallerstedt spent six years at Wyoming (1997-2002), working with the defensive line and inside linebackers. He was promoted to Cowboys defensive coordinator from 2000-02. Wallerstedt coached with Dana Dimel for three seasons (1997-99). With Dimel, Wallerstedt helped generate one eight-win season (1998, 8-3) and two seven-win campaigns (1997 and 1999). He coached Patrick Chukwurah, who was a three-year starter and racked up 245 tackles and 27 sacks. As a senior, he earned first team All-Mountain West Conference honors. In 2001, Chukwurah was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings.
In 1996, he coached defensive backs at Emporia State.
His full-time coaching start came at Fort Hays State, where he oversaw the defensive line for two years (1994-95).
He began his coaching career in 1988 as a student assistant at Kansas State and served two years as a graduate assistant at Arizona State.
Wallerstedt was a four-year letterman at Kansas State, leading the Wildcats in tackles as a junior and senior. The linebacker earned honorable mention All-America honors in 1987. During his senior season, Wallerstedt was co-MVP and the Wildcats' team captain.
Wallerstedt earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Kansas State in 1988, and a master’s degree in athletic administration from Fort Hays State in 1995.
Wallerstedt and his wife, Josie, have a son, Cal, who completed his career as a linebacker at UTEP the past five seasons. He's currently finishing graduate school and aspires to be a dentist.
