Matt Balis 2022-23 Staff

THE BALIS FILE

Hometown	Chicago, IL
College	Northern Illinois (Education, 1996)
Graduate School	Aurora University (Educational Leadership and Administration, 2001)
Wife	Lanette
Children	Sons – Jacob, Ricky

COACHING CAREER

2001-02	Houston	Assistant Strength Coach
2003	Utah	Assistant Strength Coach
2004	Utah	Director of Strength and Conditioning
2005-06	Florida	Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning
2007-08	Virginia	Head Football Strength and Conditioning Coach
2009-13	Mississippi State	Director of Strength and Conditioning
2014-16	UConn	Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
2017-current	Notre Dame	Trematerra Family Director of Football Performance

BOWLS/PLAYOFF GAMES COACHED

2003	Utah	Liberty Bowl
2004	Utah	Fiesta Bowl
2005	Florida	Outback Bowl
2006	Florida	BCS Championship Game
2007	Virginia	Gator Bowl
2010	Mississippi State	Gator Bowl
2011	Mississippi State	Music City Bowl
2012	Mississippi State	Gator Bowl
2013	Mississippi State	Liberty Bowl
2015	UConn	St. Petersburg Bowl
2017	Notre Dame	Citrus Bowl
2018	Notre Dame	College Football Playoff Semifinal – Cotton Bowl
2019	Notre Dame	Camping World Bowl
2020	Notre Dame	College Football Playoff Semifinal – Rose Bowl
2021	Notre Dame	Fiesta Bowl
2022	Notre Dame	Gator Bowl

PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Chicago native was an assistant football coach and worked in the area of strength and conditioning at both Wheaton Warrenville South High School (1996-98) and Wheaton North High School for three years (1998-01)
• Taught physical education at the elementary school level during that five-year period

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Fifth season as Notre Dame’s Director of Football Performance in 2021
• Trained 14 first-round NFL Draft picks, including Notre Dame’s offensive line tandem of Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey, as well as defensive lineman Jerry Tillery
• Developed another 13 second-round NFL Draft picks (most recently Aaron Banks, Liam Eichenberg and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah)
• Previously served as the head strength coach at UConn, Mississippi State, Utah and Virginia; Has mentored multiple NFL-bound and/or college award-winning players at multiple programs,including, Jonathan Banks, Chris Long, Chris Jones, Dak Prescott, Chase Claypool, Liam Eichenberg, Aaron Banks, Foley Fatukasi and Gabe Jackson.
• Finalist for 2018 FootballScoop Strength Coach of the Year
• Strength and conditioning coordinator at UConn for three years (2014-16); Designed and developed all facets of the strength and conditioning program for the Husky football team
• Created programs including but not limited to explosive power development using triple extension movements, high-effort training sets and metabolic training. Collaborated with coaches and sports medicine staff, nutrition staff and massage therapy staff to give each athlete the best possible training, nutrition and rehabilitation service
• Worked alongside former Irish assistant coach and Florida head coach Dan Mullen for five seasons (2009-13)
• Helped the Bulldogs reach four consecutive bowl games – a feat not previously accomplished in school history
• Named one of three finalists for the FootballScoop Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year Award in 2010
• Spent two years as the strength and conditioning coach for the Virginia football program (2007-08); Responsibilities with the Cavaliers included overseeing the football program’s strength and conditioning needs, and assessing each individual’s physical attributes to improve athletic performance
• Served as the assistant director of strength and conditioning at Florida for two years (2005-06); Worked alongside former Notre Dame director of strength and conditioning and then Gators’ director of strength and conditioning Mickey Marotti. Responsible for assisting the director of strength and conditioning with daily operations of the Gators’ facility. Assisted with coordination of the entire strength program, including coaching in the weight room, speed development and conditioning
• Florida finished the 2006 season with a 13-1 record, won the Southeastern Conference Championship and the BCS National Championship
• Worked two years at Utah (2003-04) as an assistant strength coach in 2003 before former Irish assistant coach and then Utah head coach Urban Meyer (now with the Jacksonville Jaguars) promoted him to the director of strength and conditioning in 2004. The Utes finished the 2004 season with an overall record of 12-0 and won the Fiesta Bowl. Balis oversaw the entire 16-sport Utah program and was responsible for the design and implementation of programs for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball and volleyball
• Worked as an assistant strength coach at Houston for two years (2001-02)
• Certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCC)
• Certified strength and conditioning specialist and a certified strength and conditioning coach, Master Strength & Conditioning Coach (CSCCa) certification

Dynamic Disciples

LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Notre Dame)

• 2020 NFL Draft Second Round pick (Cleveland Browns)
• 2020 Unanimous First Team All-American

DL Jerry Tillery (Notre Dame)

• 2019 NFL Draft First Round pick (Los Angeles Chargers)
• 2018 First Team All-American (CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated)

LG Quenton Nelson (Notre Dame)

• 2018 NFL Draft First Round pick (Indianapolis Colts)
• 2017 Unanimous All-American, 2017 Outland Trophy Finalist

LT Mike McGlinchey (Notre Dame)

• 2018 NFL Draft First Round pick (San Francisco 49ers)
• 2017 Consensus All-American, 2017 Outland Trophy Semifinalist

CB Byron Jones (UConn)

• 2015 NFL Draft First Round pick (Dallas Cowboys)

DT Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State)

• 2011 NFL Draft First Round pick (Philadelphia Eagles)

DB Darius Slay (Mississippi State)

• 2013 NFL Draft Second Round pick (Detroit Lions)

DE Preston Smith (Mississippi State)

• 2015 NFL Draft Second Round pick (Washington Redskins)

OT Derek Sherrod (Mississippi State)

• 2011 NFL Draft First Round pick (Green Bay Packers)

OT Eugene Monroe (Virginia)

• 2009 NFL Draft First Round pick (Jacksonville Jaguars)

LB Clint Sintim (Virginia)

• 2009 NFL Draft Second Round pick (New York Giants)

DE Chris Long (Virginia)

• 2008 NFL Draft First Round pick (St. Louis Rams)

OG Branden Albert (Virginia)

• 2008 NFL Draft First Round pick (Kansas City Chiefs)

WR Percy Harvin (Florida)

• 2009 NFL Draft First Round pick (Minnesota Vikings)

DE Derrick Harvey (Florida)

• 2008 NFL Draft First Round pick (Jacksonville Jaguars)

DE Jarvis Moss (Florida)

• 2008 NFL Draft First Round pick (Denver Broncos)

DB Reggie Nelson (Florida)

• 2008 NFL Draft First Round pick (Jacksonville Jaguars)

WR Chad Jackson (Florida)

• 2006 NFL Draft Second Round pick (New England Patriots)

QB Alex Smith (Utah)

• 2005 NFL Draft First Round pick (San Francisco 49ers)