Marc Mattioli is in his first season as the defensive coordinator at Kennesaw State.
A veteran defensive coach, Mattioli came to Kennesaw after spending two years as the head football coach overseas of the Paris Musketeers with the European League of Football. He also coached for a season with the Parma Panthers. Prior to his successful stint abroad, Mattioli coached for nine combined years in both the Pac-12 and SEC.
In 2024, Mattioli helped lead Paris to a 11-3 season. In 2021, he also helped lead the Panthers to their first Italian League title since 2013 with an undefeated 10-0 finish.
Prior to Europe, Mattioli worked for five seasons on Vanderbilt’s defensive staff, beginning in 2015.
In 2019, three of Mattioli’s young safeties — Tae Daley, Deshaun Jerkins and Brendon Harris — ranked among the Commodores’ top four tackles, with each producing more than 50 stops. Additionally, Daley topped the team and ranked among Southeastern Conference leaders with three interceptions.
In 2018, Mattioli developed LaDarius Wiley, Frank Coppet and Daley into productive starting safeties. The trio ranked among Vanderbilt’s top-10 tackles during the season. Wiley, a two-year starter, eventually signed an NFL undrafted free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans. Daley and Coppet, both seeing significant collegiate action for the first time, registered 45 and 30 tackles, respectively. Coppet also ranked second on the team with three interceptions.
Mattioli also coached cornerbacks Tre Herndon – who signed as a rookie free agent and played with the Jaguars (2018-23) – and Joejuan Williams – who played for the New England Patriots for four seasons (2019-22). They reunited in 2024 when they both signed with the New Orleans Saints.
Mattioli started with the Commodores in 2014 as safeties coach, coming from Stanford where he served as a defensive graduate assistant and defensive quality control assistant for the Cardinal.
Mattioli was a defensive quality control assistant for the Cardinal secondary in 2014, focusing his efforts on the Stanford secondary. In 2012-13, he served as a defensive graduate assistant at Stanford, helping the Cardinal as a defensive backs and safeties mentor.
In 2014, Stanford finished second nationally in scoring defense, third in total defense, and eighth in passing defense. The Cardinal did not allow a touchdown pass in five games, and permitted just one score via the pass in four other games. The Stanford defense also posted as many interceptions (12) as touchdown passes allowed.
The 2014 Cardinal secondary was led senior strong safety Jordan Richards with three interceptions and three forced fumbles. A first team All-Pac 12 selection as a senior, Richards also was awarded the 2014 National Football Foundation’s Scholar-Athlete Award. Richards finished with nine career interceptions.
Mattioli also worked with highly ranked Stanford defenses as a graduate assistant in 2012 and 2013. The Cardinal ranked 10th nationally in scoring defense during a run to the Rose Bowl in 2013, and led the Pac-12 in scoring defense and total defense 2012 campaign that included another Rose Bowl appearance and conference title.
In total, Mattioli spent three seasons at Stanford and six seasons with Vanderbilt.
Mattioli has strong ties to the South. Prior to joining the Stanford staff, Mattioli served two seasons as the defensive line coach for LaGrange College, southwest of Atlanta.
In college, Mattioli played tight end as a freshman at Rhodes College before transitioning to the defensive line for his final three campaigns. He served as team captain as a senior in 2008, and was part of the 2006 Rhodes defense that ranked fifth nationally.
He earned Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic honors four times. Mattioli was the National Foundation and College Hall of Fame Outstanding Student-Athlete Award recipient for Rhodes and was an all-SCAC choice in 2006 and 2008.
Mattioli graduated from Rhodes with a degree in political science. He also earned a master’s degree from LaGrange College and was working toward another master’s degree in liberal arts at Stanford.
Born in New York, Mattioli grew up in Roswell, Ga., graduating from Roswell High School in 2005.
