University of Rhode Island

Matt Dawson joined the Rhode Island staff in January 2014 as the linebackers coach.

In 2015, Dawson oversaw one of the team's stronger units. Junior linebacker Adam Parker earned CAA Football Second Team All-Conference honors and was second on the team in tackles despite missing the final two games of the season. Freshman linebacker Tez Wilson was a starter throughout the season and earned CAA Football Rookie of the Week honors for his performance in the team's 20-0 victory over Delaware. Fellow freshman Justin Hogan started the final two games in Parker's absence and recorded 12 tackles in each game.

In his first season, Dawson's coached CAA Football First-Team All-Conference selection Andrew Bose, who led the league with 125 tackles. Bose and fellow linebacker Adam Parker were the team's top two tacklers, as Parker had 102 stops. After the season, Bose signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent.

Dawson arrived in Kingston with 12 seasons of experience. He spent the 2013 season as the Virginia State defensive coordinator, spearheading a defensive effort that led to Virginia State winning its division title. After being picked 10th in the 12-team CIAA in the preseason coaches’ poll, Virginia State went 9-1, including a perfect 7-0 mark in conference play. Dawson’s defense allowed just 17.4 points and 94.9 rushing yards per game while forcing 21 turnovers in 10 games. The Trojans won the league’s Northern Division title and were ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Division II Super One Region.

Three of Dawson’s players – defensive backs Sean Smith and Virginoir Loiseau and defensive lineman Ronald Lewis – earned All-CIAA honors last season. Linebacker Geo Feggins was named to the league’s all-rookie team.

Dawson spent the 2012 season as the defensive coordinator for Monroe College, and before that he held the same position for two seasons at Fordham. Dawson coached the linebackers and was the special teams coordinator for New Hampshire in 2009. As a graduate assistant, he was an assistant defensive line coach at Oregon from March 2007 through February 2009. He also spent time coaching at Massachusetts (his alma mater) and Central Connecticut State.

Dawson earned a degree in sports management from Massachusetts in 2001. While a three-year starter at linebacker, he helped the Minutemen win the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA national championship and the 1999 Atlantic 10 championship.

Updated December 2015