CARDINALS FOOTBALL Matt Weikert
Defensive Coordinator/ Inside Linebackers Matt Weikert joined the Lamar University 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 Conference by finishing in a tie for fifth in the league standings. 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. He also oversaw the development of John Rabold who became one of the top defensive players in the conference in 2007. Rabold was a first-team all-conference selection who recorded 74 tackles and a team-best 17.5 tackles for loss.
Coby Gipson
Recruiting Coordinator/ Running Backs Coby Gipson joined the Lamar University coaching staff in January 2020 taking over as the recruiting coordinator and coaching the Cardinals’ running backs. Gipson comes to LU after spending the 2019 campaign as the defensive line coach at East Texas Baptist University. In his first season with LU, Gipson’s stable of backs finished sixth in the Southland in rushing – a mark that may not seem impressive on the surface to the average fan, but when taking a closer look it becomes very impressive. In the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, LU’s running backs were either freshmen or sophomores, and that stable of backs was running behind an offensive line that was just as young (four freshmen and a sophomore). Big Red’s ground game only got stronger as the season wore on. While at ETBU, Gipson helped the Tigers record their fifth-straight winning season. During the 2019 season, Gipson’s defensive front set the tone for a unit that recorded 82 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Gipson produced two of the league’s more dominant players in 2019, a list that includes a first-team all-conference selection and a true freshman. Anton Clark led ETBU in tackles, tackles for losses and sacks on his way to being honored as one of the top linemen in the American Southwest Conference. As a true freshman, James Wright IV had an immediate impact with the Tigers recording 50 tackles, including 12 for losses, and tying for team-high honors with 6.5 sacks. Gipson joined the ETBU staff from Howard Payne where he spent two
Rabold also had 5.5 quarterback sacks and led the conference with four fumble recoveries in addition to three forced fumbles. 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. seasons as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. During his time at HPU, Gipson’s offense finished fifth in the American Southwest Conference in rushing yards per game in 2017 and set the HPU record for completions in a game with 39 in 2018. He was the position coach for the only freshman on the All-ASC first-team in 2017. The following year, Gipson’s offense finished third in the conference in completion percentage and his top receiver, Duntayvion Gross, led the league in receptions. Gipson joined the HPU coaching staff after spending the previous five years as the head coach at Bishop T.K. Gorman in Tyler. During his time at Bishop Gorman, Gipson guided the Crusaders to three-straight playoff appearances. Bishop Gorman’s success included an area and regional championship to go along with the trip to the 2014 TAPPS State semifinals. Under Gipson’s direction, the Crusaders posted a 28-17 (.622) overall record, which was the program’s best four-year winning percentage in the team’s 60-year history. During his time at Bishop Gorman, he coached 21 players that garnered all-state recognition, one Parade All-American receiver – Judah Bell – two District Defensive MVPs and a District MVP. Before Bishop Gorman, Gipson served as the Offensive Coordinator at Grace Community High School in Tyler, Texas, where the Cougars made it to the state semifinals in 2011. There he was a part of a staff that was named the TAPPS District 2 Coaching Staff of the Year in 2010 and 2011. Gipson has also worked in football outside of the school setting, serving as the Head Coach of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Heart of a Champion Bowl in 2016, Offensive Coordinator in 2011, and as the bowl game’s assistant director from 2011-2016. In 2016-2017, he was honored with the Northeast Texas FCA Influence Award. Gipson is a graduate of LeTourneau University and received his master’s degree from Concordia-Irvine. He and his wife Christy – a former ETBU All-American in softball – have two children, daughter, Camryn, and a son, Connor.
LAMARCARDINALS.COM | #WEARELU
14
