Updated: April 7, 2025
A former footballscoop.com finalist for national coordinator of the year, Brock Caraboa joined Brent Dearmon's staff at the University of North Alabama as defensive coordinator in December 2022 and also serves as assistant head coach. He enters his third season at 2025.
Caraboa came to UNA after serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Tiffin University. While at Tiffin, Caraboa led a defensive unit that ranked among the top 15 programs in NCAA Division I.Â
"Brock Caraboa is one of the brightest young defensive minds in the country," said Dearmon. "He has coordinated top defenses at the NAIA and Division II levels and received national recognition for it. Brock is a passionate coach that loves his players."
In 2022, Tiffin allowed the sixth-fewest touchdowns in the nation and owned the 17th ranked scoring defense. Tiffin also ranked among the top 25 programs in third down defense, sacks, fewest first downs allowed and defensive touchdowns. While at Tiffin, Caraboa led the Dragons to the first bowl game in school history.
Caraboa coached two seasons at the University of Kansas, joining Jayhawks’ staff as a senior defensive analyst in February of 2020. Prior to that, Caraboa spent the previous seven seasons at his alma mater, Marian University.
Over his last four seasons at Marian, Caraboa served as a defensive coordinator for the Knights, helping them to one of the strongest defensive units in the nation. During the 2019 campaign, he helped guide the Knights to the NAIA National Championship Game. Caraboa was the 2019 MSFA Mideast League Assistant Coach of the Year and was named a finalist for the footballscoop.com Coordinator of the Year for the third time in his career.
Under Caraboa, the Knights were the top ranked defense in the country in the NAIA, ranking first in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and eighth in total sacks in 2018. Two seasons prior in 2016, Caraboa also led the NAIA in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, third down defense, sacks and ranked fifth in defensive pass efficiency.
In 2018, Caraboa again earned the MSFA Mideast League Assistant Coach of the Year award. Under Caraboa, the Knights were the top ranked defense in the country in the NAIA, ranking first in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and eighth in total sacks in 2018.
Caraboa also led the Knights to the No. 1 defense in the country in 2016, ranking first in the nation in sacks, scoring defense, rushing defense, third down defense, sacks per game, touchdowns allowed, yards per play, takeaway margin and yards per carry.
As a four-year letterwinner and a three-year captain at Marian University, Caraboa was one of the top linebackers in school history, holding the single-season and career records for tackles. He was a 2010 NAIA All-American, and was also a three-time All-MSFA Mideast League performer.
Caraboa earned a bachelor’s degree in 2011 from Marian University and earned a master’s degree from Ball State University in 2014.
He is married to his wife, Katie.
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