Brock Caraboa

Bio

Brock Caraboa was named the defensive coordinator for Texas A&M University–Texarkana’s inaugural football team, bringing a nationally respected resume and a proven history of building elite defensive units across multiple collegiate levels.

A former FootballScoop.com National Coordinator of the Year finalist, Caraboa has coordinated top-performing defenses at the NAIA, Division II, and Division I levels. Most recently, he served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at the University of North Alabama, joining Brent Dearmon’s staff in December 2022 and helping guide the Lions through multiple competitive seasons.

In his first season at North Alabama in 2023, Caraboa engineered one of the most improved defenses in the FCS ranks. The Lions made significant national jumps, including a +46 improvement in third-down defense, +57 in tackles for loss, +116 in fourth-down defense, and +27 in sacks. The unit also improved by +37 spots in red zone defense and +28 across scoring, rushing, and total defense categories. Highlighting the turnaround, North Alabama recorded its first shutout in more than seven seasons with a victory over Tennessee Tech.

Caraboa’s defensive success continued in 2024, as North Alabama emerged as one of the top defensive units in the UAC. The Lions ranked first in opponent first downs allowed and sacks, while finishing second in both total defense and rushing defense. His leadership also extended to player development, mentoring UAC Conference Player of the Year Edwin White and UAC Freshman of the Year Josh Anglin.

In 2025, Caraboa continued his track record of developing elite linebackers, mentoring All-Conference selection Demarcious Robinson.

Prior to North Alabama, Caraboa was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Tiffin University, where he led one of the nation’s top defensive units in 2022. That season, Tiffin allowed the sixth-fewest touchdowns nationally and ranked 17th in scoring defense, while also finishing among the nation’s top 25 programs in third-down defense, sacks, fewest first downs allowed, and defensive touchdowns. The year concluded with Tiffin’s first bowl appearance in program history.

Caraboa spent two seasons at the University of Kansas as a senior defensive analyst, beginning in 2020. During his time with the Jayhawks, Caraboa’s coaching path intersected with Eagles head coach Eargle, establishing a professional relationship that now continues in Texarkana.

His most decorated tenure came at his alma mater, Marian University, where he spent seven seasons and served as defensive coordinator for four. During that span, Caraboa helped produce one of the most dominant defensive stretches in NAIA history. In 2019, Marian advanced to the NAIA National Championship Game, and Caraboa was named MSFA Mideast League Assistant Coach of the Year while earning his third FootballScoop.com Coordinator of the Year finalist honor.

Under Caraboa’s leadership, Marian led the NAIA defensively multiple times. In 2018, the Knights ranked No. 1 nationally in scoring defense, total defense, and rushing defense, while also finishing eighth in sacks. In 2016, Marian again led the nation in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, third-down defense, and sacks, while ranking among the NAIA’s best in pass efficiency defense.

A former standout player, Caraboa was a four-year letterwinner and three-year captain at Marian, finishing his career as one of the top linebackers in program history. He holds the school’s single-season and career tackles records, earned 2010 NAIA All-America honors, and was a three-time All-MSFA Mideast League selection.

Caraboa earned his bachelor’s degree from Marian University in 2011 and his master’s degree from Ball State University in 2014. He and his wife, Katie, join the Eagles as Caraboa leads the development of the first defensive identity in Texas A&M University–Texarkana football history.