San Diego Athletics

Matt Aponte joined San Diego football in the fall of 2021. After serving as the Toreros' tight ends coach for two seasons, he was named USD's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach ahead of the 2023 season.

In 2024, Aponte directed a San Diego offense that saw quarterback Grant Sergent score a Pioneer Football League-best 26 touchdowns, which ranked ninth in the FCS during the regular season. Sergent totaled 2,403 yards that year and threw only five interceptions.

Aponte’s passing game also helped wide receiver Ja’seem Reed earn 2024 PFL Offensive Player of the Year honors as he finished in the top 10 nationally in total touchdowns, yards, and receptions.

In 2023 and 2024, Aponte’s offensive unit ranked second among PFL programs in total yards per game, averaging 365. Fourteen of his offensive players earned All-Conference nods in that timeframe. 

2023 saw Aponte mentor true freshman quarterback Don Nankil from his college debut all the way to a selection as a finalist for the 2023 Jerry Rice Award, given annually to the most outstanding player in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision. 

His success at USD hasn’t been limited to an putting together an aerial attack. In 2024, running back Isaiah Williams ranked ninth nationally with an average of 108 rushing yards per game as he totaled more than 1,000 yards on the year.

Aponte, the youngest offensive coordinator in Division I FCS, was named to the Coaching Network’s 30 Under 30 list in 2023.

He came to San Diego after spending the past six seasons with the University of Iowa under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Most recently, Aponte was the assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019 and 2020, and served as an offensive assistant from 2017 to 2018. During his career in Iowa City, the program won 60 games, three consecutive bowl games and a Big Ten West title.
 
As an undergraduate assistant with the Hawkeyes, Aponte worked in scouting and recruiting, serving as a player personnel assistant from 2014 to 2016. Additionally, he was a scouting and operations intern with the Kansas City Chiefs during the summers in 2015 and 2016.
 
Aponte graduated from the University of Iowa in 2018 with his bachelor’s degree in Sport and Recreation Management. A native of Staten Island, New York, Aponte attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.