Recruiting Area: Assistant to Recruiting Coordinator Rex Rover
Matt Minnillo enters his fifth season in the 2022-23 school year as the assistant defensive line coach for the Blue Streaks.
In his third season leading the defensive line in spring 2021, the Blue Streaks held foes to 2.8 yards per carry and nabbed 6 sacks in 3 games. Under Minnillo's watch, defensive tackle Daniel Garcar earned All-OAC status and defensive lineman Harrison Richardson tabbed Honorable Mention All-OAC.
During the 2019 season, all four starting lineman were recognized as All-OAC and finished eighth in Division III in sacks per game. Additionally, Conner Bogard was honored as second team All-American and Cal Reynolds received All-Region third team honors.
In 2018, his first season working with the defensive line, John Carroll held the most sacks per game on average in the NCAA (all divisions included.) Additionally, he instructed two defensive lineman that were named All-Americans in Jimmy Thomas (2nd Team) and Bogard (3rd Team). Thomas was also named Defensive Lineman of the Year by the Ohio Athletic Conference.
Minnillo began his coaching career in the high school ranks, as an assistant at his alma mater, Gilmour Academy. He then coached full time at Villa Angela-St. Joseph’s High School as their defensive line coach up until the 2004 season.
In 2005, Minnillo made the transition to Mayfield High School where he coached as the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach for two seasons. He then found his way as a defensive coordinator for Cleveland Heights High School from 2007-09.
Minnillo was a member of head coach Rick Finotti’s coaching staff at St. Edward’s High School, serving as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach from 2009-14. He won two State Championships in his tenure with the Eagles.
Before his time at JCU, Minnillo anchored the Benedictine High School defense as their coordinator and also coached defensive backs up until the 2015 season.
He is a graduate of Gilmour Academy and Notre Dame College, and serves as a seventh and eighth grade teacher at nearby Cleveland Heights Middle School in addition to assisting with the Blue and Gold defensive line.
