WISE - - UVA Wise Head Football Coach Dane Damron announced the promotion of Matthew White to the position of defensive coordinator, effective immediately. White served as the Cavaliers' defensive line coach while also overseeing the team's strength and conditioning program since arriving at the school following the 2019 season.

"I am pleased to announce Matt White as our defensive coordinator," remarked coach Damron. "Matt brings high energy and has been successful as a head coach at the junior college level and as a coordinator at Kentucky Christian University."

A native of Montana, White played collegiate football at the University of Sioux Falls before beginning his coaching career at Montana Tech University.

Following his stint at Montana Tech, White moved to West Hills Community College, where he coached linebackers in 2015. From there, the coach spent four years at Los Angeles Valley College serving as the program's running backs, defensive backs and linebackers coach at various points before becoming the school's defensive coordinator.

White would eventually become the head coach at Los Angeles Valley where he guided the school to a winning record behind a defense that was ranked top 20 nationally in scoring (17 points per game) and an offense that posted 45.8 points per game.

The coach then headed east to Kentucky Christian where he was associate head coach and defensive coordinator for the Knights in 2019.

White takes over a defensive unit at UVA Wise that has consistently ranked near the top of the conference over the last four seasons. In 2019, the Cavs ranked 15th nationally in passing defense as the unit held opponents to 167.5 yards per game.

"We will continue to do what we have done schematically here since 2016," added Damron. "Coach White will add his flavor to it but, we are who we are."

White obtained a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Sioux Falls and a master's degree in human health and performance from Fort Hays State University.