Canada, a 2016 Broyles Award finalist (award for the nation’s top assistant coach) and a 25-year coaching veteran with a history of producing some of the top offenses in college football, comes to College Park after spending last season as LSU’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
“Matt has a unique ability to utilize any and all types of personnel, and still produce extremely explosive offenses,” said Durkin. “He’s a very versatile coach that has experience developing impact players at every offensive position. Matt’s had a great deal of success everywhere he’s been and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him here at Maryland.”
Beatty, now entering his third year on Durkin’s staff, played a large role in the development of Big Ten Receiver of the Year DJ Moore and has been a key contributor in Maryland landing consecutive Top 20 recruiting classes.
“Chris is an integral part of our coaching staff and I’m excited to have him in this role,” said Durkin. “I’m proud of the work he’s done with our student-athletes and am happy to have him continue playing an instrumental role in the upward direction of the program.”
Canada comes to Maryland with 25-years of coaching experience with stops at LSU (2017), Pittsburgh (2016), North Carolina State (2013-15), Wisconsin (2012), North Illinois (1998-2003; 2011) and Indiana (2004-10). He’s developed numerous NFL Draft picks, including Pitt quarterback Nathan Peterman, NC State quarterback Jacoby Brissett, Wisconsin running backs Montee Ball, James White and Melvin Gordon to name a few.
Canada joined LSU’s coaching staff in 2017 after a one-year stint at Pittsburgh, where he led a Panthers offense that set school records for points in a season (532) and points per game (40.9) in 2016. Under Canada’s direction, the Pittsburgh offense scored 40 or more points six times, including a school-record 76 points against Syracuse, and was the only Power 5 team to score at least 28 points in every regular season contest.
Canada helped Pittsburgh to a 43-42 win over eventual national champion Clemson, as well as a 42-39 victory over 2016 Big Ten Champion Penn State. Under Canada, Pitt ranked No. 10 nationally in points per game and No. 8 in redzone touchdowns with 45. The Panthers averaged 446.8 total yards per game (225.1 rushing, 221.7 passing). Following the season, Peterman was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
Prior to his one season at Pitt, Canada spent three years at NC State where he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He played an integral role in developing Brissett into a third round NFL Draft pick. With Canada calling the plays, NC State played in back-to-back bowl games in 2014 and 2015.
In 2015, the Wolfpack averaged 412.8 yards per game, the fifth-highest average in school history. NC State led the Atlantic Coast Conference and ranked 11th nationally in time of possession (33:03).
Prior to NC State, Canada was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Wisconsin during the 2012 season. Led by Ball, an All-American, the Badgers averaged 236.4 rushing yards per game to rank 13th nationally. Ball, who rushed for 1,830 yards and 22 touchdowns, was named the recipient of the prestigious Doak Walker Award, annually presented to the nation’s top running back.
Canada’s offense exploded in the 2012 Big Ten Championship Game, a 70-31 rout of Nebraska, to earn the Badgers a trip to the Rose Bowl. Wisconsin had two 200-yard rushers for the first time in school history as it piled up 539 yards on the ground and 640 total against the Cornhuskers.
At Northern Illinois, Canada helped lead the Huskies to the 2011 MAC title and a berth in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. Starting quarterback Chandler Harnish earned Mid-America Conference MVP honors and was picked in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
Canada broke into coaching as a student-assistant at Indiana. He later served as a graduate assistant at Indiana from 1994-1995 and coached at Butler University from 1996-1997.
Canada earned his B.A. in Business (1993) and M.A. in Sports Administration (1995) at Indiana University.
Canada is from New Palestine, Indiana. He has one daughter, Tori, and a son, Chris.
The hiring of Canada comes a week after the hiring of veteran coaches Chuck Heater (safeties) and Bryan Stinespring (offensive line).
CANADA’S COACHING EXPERIENCE
1993-96: Indiana (student assistant, 1993; graduate assistant, 1994-96)
1997: Butler (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
1998-2003: Northern Illinois (running backs, 1998-2000; quarterbacks, 2001-02; offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2003)
2004-10: Indiana (quarterbacks, 2004; quarterbacks/passing game coordinator, 2005-06; offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, 2007-10)
2011: Northern Illinois (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
2012: Wisconsin (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
2013-15: NC State (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
2016: Pittsburgh (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
2017: LSU (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
2018-present: Maryland (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
