Belhaven University Athletics

Matt Conner enters his seventh season on the coaching staff at Belhaven as the Recruiting Coordinator and third season as Defensive Coordinator. 

The Blazers' defensive unit was dominant all year long in 2022 en route to an 8-2 finish. Connor Fordham was named the USA South Defensive Player of the Year after recording nearly 100 tackles to lead Conner's group. The unit held opponents to just 15 points per game and just three yards per rushing attempt. Five defensive players earned All-USA South honors following the campaign. 

Under Conner in 2021, the Belhaven defense continued to be among the best in the American Southwest Conference led by six All-ASC recognitions. Additionally, defensive lineman Carlton Brown was named the ASC Defensive Lineman of the Year and an AFCA Division III All-American on the Second Team defense. Brown was the Blazers' first All-American in the NCAA era. 

During the spring of 2021, Conner assumed the role of Defensive Coordinator and played a crucial part in leading the Belhaven defense to a highly successful season, one of the best in recent years. The 2021 campaign ended with 6 defensive players receiving All-Conference honors, including first-team All-ASC defensive lineman Demetrius Brokenberry, second-team All-ASC defensive lineman Colton Strain, and second-team All-ASC/D3football.com All-Region defensive lineman Carlton Brown.  

Conner is a native of Oxford, Mississippi. His successful playing career at Oxford High School led to All-State honors and an opportunity to represent the state as an offensive lineman in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game. Conner played two seasons as an offensive lineman at Itawamba Community College where he was a part of one of the nation's most productive junior college offenses during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. After competing at Itawamba, Conner played at Delta State University. 
 
Following his playing career, Conner earned his Bachelor's degree in Special Education at the University of Mississippi as he simultaneously worked on the football staff at Oxford High School. 
 
During his six seasons coaching at Oxford High, Conner coached tight ends, offensive and defensive line, and powerlifting. Conner helped coach the Chargers to a 66-14 record and played a part in developing seven NCAA Division I football players and one Mississippi Defensive Player of the Year. He also helped the Chargers' Powerlifting team win three consecutive state championships. 

Conner is married to Jackson native Amanda Leigh Conner. The couple resides in Madison, Mississippi with their two sons, Reid and Beau.