Harding University Athletics

• Served as Harding’s quarterbacks and fullbacks coach on the 2023 NCAA Division II national championship team.
• Harding has a 15-0 record in Middleton’s time on staff ... has coached in four postseason games for Harding.
• Has coached First Team All-GAC and All-America fullback Blake Delacruz in his first season at Harding.
• Harding led Division II in rushing his first season and rushed for 6,160 yards, the most ever by a college football team.

In addition to his extensive experience, Matt brings an exceptional record of achievement to Harding University. He was the Head Coach and Athletic Director at Cedar Creek School in Ruston, Louisiana, where he led the team to the 2022 D-IV Quarterfinals, and in 2021, they advanced to the D-IV Louisiana Regional Playoffs. Matt was awarded the 2021 2-1A District Coach of the Year, 2021 Lincoln Parish Journal All-Parish Coach of the Year, and the 2021 Ruston Daily Leader All-Ruston Gridiron Team Coach of the Year.

Before his tenure at Cedar Creek, Matt was the Head Coach at West Ouachita High School in West Monroe, Louisiana, where he led the team in the largest classification in the state of Louisiana. In 2020, they won the Louisiana Army National Guard Soldiers Bowl, recording the first back-to-back Class 5-A postseasons and winning seasons in the school's history. In 2019, West Ouachita's team made its first Class 5-AAAAA playoff appearance in school history.

Prior to his time at West Ouachita High School, Matt served as the Head Coach at Prairie View Academy in Bastrop, Louisiana, where he led the team to its first back-to-back district championships, its first back-to-back quarterfinal playoff appearances in school history, and its first winning season and playoff berth since 2007. Prairie View Academy also saw its best record and winning percentage in a season in its 47-year history.

Matt's coaching prowess at the University of Arkansas-Monticello resulted in impressive conference and national rankings. In 2013, the team ranked first in the red zone scoring, passing efficiency, and fewest fumbles lost. In the same year, they ranked sixth in the national rankings for red zone scoring.

PLAYING CAREER
Middleton was a quarterback and wide receiver at West Monroe (La.) High School from 1993-97. His team won the 1996 Louisiana 5-AAAAA state championship. He played the 1997 season as a wide receiver at Mississippi College, where his team won the American Southwest Conference championship.