A&M–Texarkana Names Brock Caraboa Inaugural Defensive Coordinator

TEXARKANA, Texas – Texas A&M University–Texarkana has named Brock Caraboa as the defensive coordinator for the inaugural football team, bringing one of the nation's most accomplished and respected defensive minds to lead the Eagles as the program prepares to take the field for the first time.

A former FootballScoop.com National Coordinator of the Year finalist, Caraboa arrives in Texarkana with a proven track record of building elite defenses across 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 

Prior to his time at UNA, Caraboa was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Tiffin University, where he engineered one of the top defensive units in the nation. In 2022, the Dragons 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. That season culminated in Tiffin's first bowl appearance in school history.

Caraboa also spent two seasons at the University of Kansas, joining the Jayhawks' staff in 2020 as a senior defensive analyst—a stop that proved pivotal in his coaching journey. It was at Kansas where Caraboa's and Eargle's coaching careers first intersected, forming a professional connection that now reunites the two in Texarkana.

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

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

A former standout player himself, Caraboa was a four-year letterwinner and three-year captain at Marian, finishing his career as one of the top linebackers in school history. He still holds the program'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 Brock takes on the responsibility of building the first defensive identity in Texas A&M University–Texarkana football history.