Wisconsin's Luke Fickell introduces offensive line coach Eric Mateos
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MADISON – It’s official, Eric Mateos is the Wisconsin Badgers' new offensive line coach.
Mateos comes to Wisconsin after spending the 2024 and ’25 seasons at Arkansas in the same role. Prior to that, he coached offensive line at Baylor (2021-23), BYU (2019-20). His time at Baylor and BYU coincided with UW offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’ time with those programs as the OC.
"We're excited to add Eric Mateos to our staff," Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said in a press release. “He is a really talented offensive line teacher and his great familiarity with Coach Grimes makes him a perfect fit. How he sees the game and approaches his job will be a tremendous addition to not only our line, but the entire offense as well. We are all looking forward to diving right in with him and building to a successful 2026 season."
News of Mateos’ hire was first reported by 247sports and ESPN on Wednesday. He replaces AJ Blazek, who held the role the past two seasons but didn’t have his contract renewed.
“We thank AJ for his time on our staff and his efforts developing our student-athletes,” Fickell said in a separate statement. “Evaluating every aspect of our program includes looking internally and making decisions that are in the best interest of Wisconsin Football moving forward.”
Eric Mateos worked with OC Jeff Grimes at Baylor, BYU and LSU
Mateos has been an offensive line coach for the past nine seasons. His first job in the role came at Texas State (2017-18). The year before that he was a graduate assistant/tight ends coach at LSU while Grimes coached the Tigers' offensive line and coordinated the run game.
Mateos arrived at BYU in time for Grimes’ second season as offensive coordinator. In Mateos' first season at Baylor, the Bears ranked 10th in the nation in rushing (219.3 yards per game). In his second, the team ran for 34 touchdowns and 182.4 yards rushing.
"I'm so excited to add Eric to our offensive staff," Grimes said in the press release. "He's a phenomenal person and one of the best offensive line coaches in the entire country. I believe his demeanor and coaching style fits Wisconsin Football and is just what we need to help us build a physical offense for this 2026 season."
Mateos has coached 13 NFL players including eight draft picks since 2014. He'll take over a unit that was hampered by injuries this season. As a result, the Badgers used seven startinrg offensive line combinations. Mateos' first group will have four players with starting experience, barring departures for the NFL or transfer portal: rising senior Joe Brunner at left guad and rising redshirt sophomores Emerson Mandell (right tackle), Colin Cubberly (right guard) and Ryan Cory (center).
"The offensive line coaching position at Wisconsin is among the most coveted in the world of football," said Mateos. "I am honored to steward this position and look forward to building a unit that paves the way for our offense and the shows Big Ten the power of the Badger O-Line."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Luke Fickell introduces offensive line coach Eric Mateos
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