Matt Storm came to A&M-Commerce in 2013 as the team’s offensive coordinator.
During the Lions’ 2017 National Championship run, Storm’s offense was one of the most potent in the entire Division II. The Lions had a scoring margin of 20.4 points per game. For his efforts, he was named NCAA Division II FootballScoop Coordinator of the Year. Quarterback Luis Perez led the nation in passing yards and touchdown passes, earning the Harlon Hill trophy as the best player in Division II. The Lions had the second best passing offense in the country, averaging 349.0 yards per game. The team also finished in the top 30 in the country in completion percentage (3rd at 68.8 percent), first downs gained (second), red zone offense (26th at 87 percent) scoring offense (26th at 37.1 ppg), passing efficiency (16th at 157.34) and total offense (28th at 303.4 ypg). The Lions led the Lone Star Conference in completion percentage, first downs, passing offense and winning percentage. In addition to the Harlon Hill award, Perez won the D2CCA Ron Lenz Offensive Player of the Year, the D2Football.com National Offensive Player of the Year and LSC Offensive Player of the Year and was named a First Team All-American. Jared Machorro was also named a First Team All-American as well as LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year. Four offensive players were named First Team All-LSC, five were named Second Team All-LSC and three were named Honorable Mention All-LSC. In addition to success in Division II, Storm’s offense also set numerous marks in the state of Texas. Of all scholarship schools in the state, the Lions led the state in touchdown passes and were second in touchdowns scored and passing yards per game.
During the 2016 season under Storm, the Lions led the Lone Star Conference and were second in the nation in turnover margin, ending the season with a +24 advantage. The team also led the conference and were in the top 20 in the nation in turnovers lost (13th in nation), fewest interceptions (14th in nation), scoring offense (39.8 ppg, 15th in nation) and passing offense (299.8 ypg, 17th in nation). The team was also first in the LSC in tackles for loss allowed and ranked in the top 20 in the nation passing efficiency (13th) and fourth down conversion percentage (17th). Five offensive players were named to the First Team All-LSC team, five were named Second Team All-LSC and five were named Honorable Mention All-LSC.
In 2015, the Lions once again finished in the nation's top 25 in multiple offensive categories, including total offense (464.5 yards, 25th), team passing efficiency (152.62 rating, 17th), and scoring offense (38.3 points per game, 20th). Richard Cooper was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Back of the Year.
Under Storm’s guidance in 2014, the Lions sported the No. 1 scoring offense in the NCAA averaging 54.1 points per game. The Lions scored 90-plus points twice during the year including a Lone Star Conference record 98 points against East Texas Baptist.
His 2014 unit opened the season with an NCAA Division II record setting 986 yards of total offense against East Texas Baptist. In the game, then quarterback Tyrik Rollison broke the school record with 562 passing yards and tied the record for touchdown passes. The Lions had three players rush for over 100 yards and three players record over 100 receiving yards.
The Lions were one of two teams with two wide receivers averaging over 100 reception yards per game – Ricky Collins (107.9) and Vernon Johnson (104.8). Quarterback Tyrik Rollison averaged 342.2 yards per game through the air to finish third in the NCAA. He was also third in the NCAA in yards per completion averaging a whooping 16.5 yards per catch.
Johnson went on to claim the Lone Star Conference’s Wide Receiver of the Year Award, while 12 other offensive players earned All-LSC nods. Johnson and Collins each took home All-American honors from various media outlets following the season.
All told, the 2014 Lion offense rewrote the record books accounting for 27 different NCAA, LSC and school records.
In 2013, Storm turned around an offense that averaged 267 yards per game and only 12.6 points per game in 2012 prior to his arrival into a unit that averaged 375.1 yards per game and 35 points per game.
That season Johnson set the school record for touchdown catches with 13 and receptions with 70.
Storm came to Commerce from West Texas A&M where he spent one season with the Buffs, helping lead West Texas to the NCAA national semifinals with a 12-3 record. During his time in Canyon, Storm helped the Buffs lead the Lone Star Conference in total offense per game (474.9 ypg) while ranking second in scoring offense (38.6 ppg) and fourth in rushing offense (142.9 ypg).
Prior to his time in Canyon, Storm spent six seasons as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, East Central University. One of his most productive seasons came in 2011 as every starter on the defensive line for the Tigers was named All-Great American Conference including Jason Catching, who led the conference in sacks and was named the GAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Storm worked with both the offensive and defensive lines in his stint at ECU and also headed up the coaching staff’s recruiting efforts. He also was a key member of the coaching staff that helped the Tigers capture the 2010 Lone Star Conference North Division championship.
Storm had a stand-out playing career with the Tigers on the offensive line. The two-year starter earned all-conference honors both seasons and was named the team’s lineman of the year each of those years and was a team captain in 2005.
Prior to his arrival at ECU, Storm was a two-year starter at Mt. San Antonio Junior College (Calif.) where he earned all-California Center accolades and was captain of the top-ranked junior college team in the state.
Storm received his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and his masters in sports administration from East Central University.
