Matt Thurin joined the Columbia football staff in February 2012 as the program's linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. Thurin comes to Morningside Heights after a year as an assistant coach at the University of Colorado.

At Colorado, Thurin was an offensive graduate assistant, focusing on the offensive line and special teams. He coached punt team, kickoff returns, scout team defense and scout special teams. Thurin developed scouting reports and was involved with game plans with offensive staff.

Prior to his time at Colorado, Thurin spent three years from 2008-11 at the University of Akron, where he received a master's degree in education. While at Akron, Thurin was a defensive assistant, coaching linebackers and special teams. He also assisted with the defensive backs for a year at Akron. Thurin assisted the defensive staff in all daily operations and developed hit charts, practice plans and assisted with game planning from week to week.

Thurin also spent a year at Walsh University in Ohio, where he was the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach. Thurin worked on both sides of the ball at Walsh, helping the offensive and defensive staff in daily operations.

Thurin played football and baseball at Baldwin-Wallace College in his home state of Ohio. Thurin graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and was a student coach at his alma mater, where he gained experience coaching the defensive line and defensive backs.