Above photo of Matt Cannata from Charlotte49ers.com
BELTON- UMHB football’s offensive coaching staff has been infused with additional D-I experience, as it was announced Wednesday morning that Charlotte assistant Matt Cannata has been hired as the Cru’s new offensive line coach.
He replaces Bill Bleil, who took the same position at D-I FCS program Stephen F. Austin State on Jan. 19.
“Excited to join the national champ! Time to get to work,” Cannata said in a tweet Wednesday.
At Charlotte, a D-I FBS member program that plays in Conference USA, Cannata served as an offensive line assistant for three seasons. In 2019, he helped the 49ers rank No. 1 in the conference in rushing offense and No. 2 in scoring offense, behind a very steady offensive line.
Charlotte offensive line coach Peter Rossomando said of Cannata on Twitter, “Can’t tell you how appreciative I am of Coach Cannata and all he has done for the CharLIT program and for me personally. People down in the LoneStar state better look out!!!!”
Prior to his time there, he spent the 2018 season at Austin Peay State, as an offensive graduate assistant, and holds previous D-III coaching experience, having coached at Texas Lutheran from 2016-2017.
An alum of TLU, Cannata started 38 games at center during his collegiate career with the Bulldogs, before graduating in 2013. A Houston native, he starred on Travis High School’s offensive line (Richmond, Texas), earning All-County and First-Team All-District honors.
Cannata inherits a standout offensive line group that matured greatly during the 2021 season. With the exception of center Jeffery Sims, each of UMHB’s starters on the line has collegiate eligibility remaining, including First Team All-ASC tackle Ethan Ruckman and Second Team honoree Matt Sanders.
