Staff Directory

Kevin Mathis

Title:
Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Cornerbacks

Kevin Mathis joined the Colorado staff in December 2022 as cornerbacks coach. He was named defensive pass game coordinator prior to the 2025 season and in 2026 transitioned to coaching the nickel position while retaining his responsibilities as defensive pass game coordinator.

Since arriving in Boulder with head coach Deion Sanders, Mathis has played a central role in the development of Colorado’s secondary and overall pass defense structure. He coached Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter in 2023 and 2024, helping guide one of the most dynamic players in college football history. Hunter’s ball skills, versatility and playmaking ability were defining elements of Colorado’s resurgence during that stretch.

In addition to Hunter, Mathis has tutored defensive backs DJ McKinney and Carter Stoutmire, both of whom developed into key contributors in the Buffaloes’ secondary. His position group has been recognized for improved production in takeaways, pass breakups and situational coverage execution.

Mathis joined Colorado from Jackson State, where he coached defensive backs under Coach Prime from 2020–22. During his tenure, Jackson State emerged as one of the top defenses in the FCS, ranking first nationally in multiple major defensive categories in 2022, including total defense, scoring defense, passing defense, pass efficiency defense, sacks and third-down defense. The Tigers led the FCS in pass efficiency defense in both 2021 and 2022.

He was instrumental in the recruitment and development of Travis Hunter at Jackson State and coached multiple All-SWAC defensive backs, including Shilo Sanders, Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig and Isaiah Bolden.

Prior to Jackson State, Mathis served as defensive backs coach and later defensive coordinator at Trinity Christian (Texas), helping lead the program to three consecutive TAPPS championships and a TCAL National Championship while compiling a 38-2 record during his tenure.

Mathis played 10 seasons in the NFL after entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. He played 115 career games with 55 starts for the Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, finishing with 11 interceptions (three returned for touchdowns), nine forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and 365 tackles.

A three-time Division II All-American at Texas A&M-Commerce, Mathis was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2009. He finished his collegiate career with 214 tackles, 16 interceptions and 57 pass breakups while also contributing in the return game.

Born in Gainesville, Texas, Mathis attended Gainesville High School, where he lettered in football, basketball and track and earned two All-District selections in football.

Former NFL standout Kevin Mathis was named the defensive backs coach by Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders on Dec. 12, 2022.

Mathis joined the Buffs from Jackson State, where he coached the defensive backs for Coach Prime the for three seasons from 2020-22.

Mathis helped turn the Jackson State defense around in his first year then by the 2021 season, Jackson State had one of the best defenses in the nation and in 2022, it ranked first in six major defense categories in the FCS, including total defense (257.4), scoring defense (11.2), passing defense (129.5), pass efficiency defense (81.22), team sacks (3.92), and third down defense (25.3%).

Mathis led the Jackson State defense to the top mark in FCS in pass efficiency defense in both 2021 and '22.

The year before Mathis joined the Jackson State staff in 2019, its defense was ranked 80th nationally in total defense, 109th in scoring defense and 100th in rushing defense. Those numbers improved to 62nd (total defense), 52nd (scoring defense), and 59th (rushing defense) in the COVID-delayed 2020 season. By the 2021 season, Jackson State ranked second in total defense (257.4), fourth in scoring defense (14.8), third in passing defense (157.1) and 10th in rushing defense (100.3).

Mathis was also instrumental in the recruitment of Travis Hunter, the top-ranked prospect in the 2022 class and the highest ranked prospect to ever attend an FBS or HBCU. Hunter was injured part of the 2022 season but still led Jackson State with nine pass breakups.

Mathis coached three other All-SWAC defensive backs in Shilo Sanders (2021) and Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig and Isaiah Bolden in 2022.

Silmon-Craig was second on the team with 60 tackles and had two interceptions in 2022 to earn first-team All-SWAC honors. Bolden picked up second-team honors and was second on the team with seven pass-breakups. Shilo Sanders led the SWAC with four interceptions in 2021.

Mathis went to Jackson State from Trinity Christian High School in Cedar Hills, Texas, helping lead that team to three straight Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) championships and a TCAL National Championship. He was the defensive backs coach in 2017-18 and the defensive coordinator for the 2019 season. TC-Cedar Hills was 38-2 in his three years there.

Mathis played in the NFL for 10 seasons, breaking into the league as an undrafted free agent as a teammate of Coach Prime at the Dallas Cowboys. He played three seasons for the Cowboys from 1997-99 and also played for the New Orleans Saints in 2000-01 and Atlanta Falcons (2002-06).

He played 115 games with 55 starts in the NFL, finishing his career with 11 interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns, nine force fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, and 365 tackles with 13 tackles for loss.

Mathis played collegiately at Texas A&M-Commerce and was enshrined into the school's Hall of Fame in 2009. He was a Division II All-American three times from 1994-96 and finished his career with 214 tackles, 16 interceptions and 57 pass break-ups while also returning punts and kickoffs and averaging 24 yards per kickoff return in his career.

Born in Gainesville, Texas, he attended Gainesville High School where he lettered in football, basketball and track. He was a two-time All-District selection in football.