CARDINALS FOOTBALL Patrick Covington Asst. Head Coach/OC/ Offensive Line
Patrick Covington is in his third season serving as Lamar University’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Covington comes to Beaumont after spending 10 years at Coastal Carolina working with the Chanticleers’ offensive line – the final season he accepted the added title of assistant head coach. In his first season on staff with LU, Covington led one of the nation’s youngest offensive lines through the rigors of the Southland Conference schedule. On opening day, Big Red’s starting front consisted of two sophomores and three freshmen, with a total of seven freshmen on the depth chart. By season’s end, due to some injuries, the starting front was four freshmen and a sophomore. Despite the lack of experience, the Cards young linemen improved each week. Entering 2022, the Cardinals O-Line now has another year of experience under its belt, but all five starters return as just sophomores. During his time at Coastal Carolina, Covington’s line twice led the Sun Belt in fewest sacks and produced 18 all-conference selections, including three All-Americans. His lines also protected for several players who would go on to be finalists for the Walter Payton Award. In 2018, the Chants’ offense led the Sun Belt and ranked in the top 25
Matt Weikert
Defensive Coordinator/ Inside Linebackers Matt Weikert joined the LU coaching staff in January 2020 as the defensive coordinator and works directly with the Cardinals’ inside linebackers. In his first season with the Cardinals, Weikert’s defense produced two all-conference selections despite the squad’s overall youth. Junior defensive end Tylo Phillips and sophomore defensive back Anthony Ruffin both garnered third-team all-league honors as LU stunned the Southland by finishing in a tie for fifth in the league standings. In his second year with the team, Weikert worked with one of the youngest defenses in school history. LU’s 2021 depth chart had only seven upperclassmen, and just three seniors. That squad also consisted of 13 freshmen as Big Red builds for the future. Weikert comes to Beaumont after spending the 2019 season at Vanderbilt working with the Commodores’ outside linebackers. Prior to arriving on the West End, Weikert spent 12 seasons at Air Force, including nine as outside linebackers’ coach. He also worked with the Falcons’ defensive line and inside linebackers during his time with the USAFA. Weikert helped transform Air Force’s defense into one of the top units in the Mountain West Conference, ranking among the league leaders in defensive scoring, rushing, passing and total defense.
nationally in rushing yards per game, red zone offense, time of possession, first downs and both third- and fourth-down conversion percentage for much of the season. CCU finished the year ranked in the top 10 nationally in fourth-down conversion percentage (68.8), fewest penalties (52), fewest penalties per game (4.33) and fewest penalty yards (493). During the 2015 season, the line helped CCU lead the Big South in eight different categories, including passing offense, red zone offense and total offense. That season coming on the heels of a 2014 campaign that watched the Chanticleers head back to the NCAA FCS playoffs and finish the regular season with a perfect 11-0 record and ranked No. 1 in the nation during the final two weeks of the regular season. CCU led the nation in fourth down conversions while also ranking among the nation’s top 20 in first downs, third-down conversions, scoring offense and total offense. Despite numerous records, Covington’s biggest point of pride may have been preventing defenses from making plays. In 2013, CCU led the nation in fewest tackles for losses allowed per game while also ranking among the nation’s leaders in fewest sacks allowed per game. Covington is a 2006 graduate of Furman University. He was a three-year starter and four-year letterwinner for the Paladins from 2002-05. A two-time All-Southern Conference selection, he was rated as the No. 6 guard in all of NCAA FCS (then I-AA) football by The Sports Network. He garnered Sports Network first-team All-American and second-team AP All-American honors during his career. Covington also received Strength and Conditioning All-America honors during his career. A native of Charlotte, N.C., Covington attended Myers Park High School where he was a three-year starter and served as a team captain. He is married to the former Ann Louise Duncan. The couple has a son, Gus, and a daughter, Annie.
In 2009, Air Force had one of its best defenses in school history. The defense led the conference and ranked fifth nationally in pass defense (154.3 ypg). The unit was second in the conference and 11th nationally in total defense, allowing just 288.3 yards per game. The team was second in the league and 10th nationally in scoring defense (15.7), the program’s best mark since 1998. USAFA’s defense also scored five touchdowns in 2009. Weikert served as Wake Forest’s operations and video assistant in 2006 in his second stint at the school. He spent the 2005 season as the outside linebackers’ coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga. Prior to his work in Chattanooga, Weikert worked at Wake Forest for two years as a graduate assistant. The first year he was the defensive graduate assistant, working primarily with defensive coordinator Dean Hood and linebackers coach Brad Lambert. He was also heavily involved with the scout offense in preparing the defensive unit each week, as well as weekly opponent game planning. Weikert originally joined the Wake Forest staff in 2002 as a recruiting intern. A 2002 graduate of Ohio, Weikert received a bachelor’s degree in communications. While at Ohio, Weikert was a member of the football team for five seasons, four of which came under the direction of head coach Jim Grobe. He earned second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors in 2000 after leading the Bobcats in tackles for loss (16) and sacks (6). He also recorded two interceptions and broke up four passes that season. A native of Covington, Ohio, Weikert, and his wife, Kelly (Graher), have four sons — Laken, Knox, Finley and Major.
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