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University of Massachusets Athletics
Massachusetts Football Announces Staff Promotions
February 22, 2023 | Football
Matt Layman (tight ends) and Michael Livingston (defensive backs) have been named assistant coaches
AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts football program has announced staff promotions for Matt Layman, Michael Livingston and Ryan Partridge.
Layman (tight ends) and Livingston (defensive backs) have been promoted to assistant coach roles and Partridge will add recruiting coordinator duties while continuing to work with the wide receivers.
About Layman
Layman completed his fourth season with Massachusetts in 2022, serving as an offensive analyst (tight ends). Layman worked with tight end Josiah Johnson, who earned Second Team All-Independent Honors in 2022. Prior to his analyst role, Layman was a graduate assistant for the offensive line (2021) and running backs (2020). Layman worked with the offensive line in 2021 that paved the way for running back Ellis Merriweather to become the Minutemen's first 1,000-yard rusher in the FBS era. He also spent time working with the tight ends and quarterbacks upon his arrival at Massachusetts in March of 2019.
Before joining UMass, Layman began his career at Westminster College as a graduate assistant for two seasons, working primarily with the quarterbacks. While at Westminster, he helped coach two quarterbacks who earned All-Conference nods and a quarterback that ranked second all-time in school history for total passing yards and touchdowns. Layman also was the head coach and offensive coordinator for the junior varsity team.
Layman played at the collegiate level as a quarterback for Robert Morris University (August 2011-December 2012), before transferring to Mars Hill University (January 2013 - December 2015). At Mars Hill University, he was named team captain and in 2015 was tabbed to the All-Conference Team, was first in passing efficiency for the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) and second in the league in touchdowns.
About Livingston
Livingston joined the Massachusetts staff for the 2022 season as the senior defensive analyst. He worked with the UMass secondary that ranked ninth in the FBS in passing defense and 12th in FBS in third down defense in 2022.
Before joining UMass, Livingston spent six of the previous seven seasons at Sacred Heart University, where he served as the defensive pass game coordinator/cornerbacks coach. He also coordinated all phases of the Pioneers' special teams units from 2016-19. Since 2015, Livingston coached six all-conference defensive backs & specialists. Under Livingston, the SHU secondary led all FCS Football in Passing Defense while winning back-to-back NEC Championships in 2020 and 2021.
Livingston spent the 2019 season at Howard University as the Bison's secondary coach and special teams coordinator.
Livingston was with Boston College for two seasons (2013-14), coaching cornerbacks, the defensive line and working in recruiting and scouting. Boston College made two bowl appearances during his two seasons, including the 2013 Independence Bowl and the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl
Livingston began his career as a defensive student assistant at the University of Connecticut, where he assisted the coaching staff in day-to-day operations and provided on-field assistance for the cornerbacks and other defensive team drills. Livingston saw his first bowl appearance with the Huskies at the 2011 Fiesta Bowl.
About Partridge
Partridge adds recruiting coordinator duties after joining head coach Don Brown's staff for the 2022 season as an assistant coach (wide receivers).
Partridge came to Amherst after serving as the Director of High School Scouting and Recruiting at Arizona for one season, helping the Wildcats put together a top-25 recruiting class. Before Arizona, Partridge served as the linebackers coach at Division II powerhouse Ferris State (2020).
Prior to his time with the Bulldogs, Partridge was the athletic director and head coach at Liberty High School. He directed the Northern California powerhouse to the 2018 D1-A State Championship after compiling a perfect 10-0 league mark. His first Liberty team, in 2017, claimed the school's first North Coast Section Division I Championship. In 2019, he guided Liberty to a 10-2 overall record.
During his distinguished prep coaching career, Partridge was tabbed as California's Large School Coach of the Year by Cal Hi Sports and named as the San Francisco 49ers High School Coach of the Year in 2018. Partridge also was chosen as the 2018 Bay Area News Group Coach of the Year, the Prep 2 Prep Coach of the Year and the NFL Coach of the Week while being a nominee for the National Football League's High School Coach of the Year Award.
As the athletic director at Liberty, Partridge oversaw 18 athletic programs, which included 48 teams and 90 coaching staff members. His football program grew to one of the largest among public schools in the Bay Area with 168 athletes.
Partridge began his prep head coaching career at Livermore High School in 2016 where he coached nine all-league players, which was the school's most in 25 years. He previously served from 2013-16 on the staff at Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, including roles as the special teams coordinator, outside linebackers coach, passing game coordinator and varsity baseball coach.
Partridge played collegiately for Golden West College in Huntington Beach where he was a two-time team Most Valuable Player and all-state wide receiver while also garnering Academic All-America laurels. He then went to the University of Kentucky and later transferred to Northern Arizona University where he completed his collegiate career as a wide receiver and punt returner. Partridge earned his bachelor's degree from Cal-State East Bay.
2023 Tickets
Season ticket holders from the 2022 season have received renewal information from the ticket office via email. The renewal deadline is Friday, April 14.
Fans looking to become a NEW season ticket holder can place a $50 deposit. Deposit placers will then be contacted by the ticket office to select seat location(s) ahead of tickets going on sale to the general public. To place your deposit please visit www.umassathletics.com/tickets.
