Badgers name new offensive line coach

“We’re excited to add Eric Mateos to our staff,” Fickell said. “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.”

“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 shows the Big Ten the power of the Badger O-Line.”

Mateos brings great familiarity with Wisconsin offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes after sharing coaching stints at Baylor, BYU and LSU. The duo spent three seasons (2021-23) together at Baylor with Grimes directing the offense and Mateos leading the offensive line. In 2021, Baylor’s line paved the way for the best rushing attack in the Big 12 and 10th-best in the FBS at 219.3 yards per game en route to semifinalist status for the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the nation’s best offensive line. The following season Baylor totaled 34 rushing touchdowns, averaging 182.4 rushing yards and 231.5 passing yards per game.

“I’m so excited to add Eric to our offensive staff,” Grimes added “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.”

Most recently, Mateos spent the last two seasons at Arkansas, helping rebuild a Razorbacks offensive line that finished the 2025 season as the nation’s No. 2 rated line according to Pro Football Network. Arkansas possessed a top-20 offense nationally, averaging 454.8 yards per game, including 191.9 per game on the ground. The Razorbacks ranked top-10 nationally in yards per carry. In 2024, the Arkansas offense ranked No. 10 in total offense and No. 2 in run efficiency.

Named to Dave Campbell Texas Football’s 40 under 40 list in 2023, Mateos has coached 13 NFL players including eight draft picks since 2014.

Prior to his time at Baylor, Mateos spent two seasons (2019-20) as the BYU offensive line coach under Grimes. During the Cougars’ 11-1 season in 2020, BYU finished in the Top 15 in 10 different statistical categories, including third in points per game (43.5), seventh in total offense (522.2 ypg) and eighth in passing yards (332.1 ypg).

Mateos also spent two seasons (2017-18) as the offensive line coach at Texas State and served as a graduate assistant/tight ends coach at LSU in 2016.

He began his coaching career in 2011 as an assistant offensive line coach at Southwest Baptist before serving as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the 2012 season at Hutchinson Community College. He also held a graduate assistant position at Arkansas from 2013-15.

A two-year starter at Southwest Baptist, Mateos was the starting center and team captain during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations at Southwest Baptist in 2011 and a master’s degree from Arkansas in 2015.

Mateos is married to the former Gillian Chavez and the couple have two daughters, Isabel and Camila.