SPRINGFIELD -- Brett Kulka will join Missouri State's staff as a defensive assistant coach, Bears' new head football coach Casey Woods announced today.

Kulka has served the past two seasons at Auburn University, including the role of assistant defensive line coach in 2025. 

"Brett Kulka brings a no-nonsense energy to our defensive staff after working with coach (Jack) Curtis for two years at Auburn," said Woods. "A former Big Ten player, coach Kulka displays elite detail in coaching and rugged preparation in recruiting. His connection with coach (Al) Davis has already had an impact on our defense as we build a formidable front. We welcome him to the Bears Family! It takes Us ALL! Join the Climb. Go Bears!"

Kuka was assistant defensive line coach in 2025 at Auburn for a squad that finished No. 4 in the SEC in rushing defense and No. 6 in total defense. Overall, Auburn's defense allowed its lowest yards per carry (2.86) and rushing yards per game (99.3) since 2003, and the fewest yards overall allowed (329.2) since 2017. He also helped mentor a pair of All-SEC selections in Keldric Faulk and Keyron Crawford.

In 2024, Kulka was the defensive analyst for the Tigers and worked with Freshman All-American Malik Blocton and an Auburn defensive unit that ranked 6th in the SEC in rushing defense. The Tigers also recorded 28 sacks and 68 tackles for loss in 2024. 

In his tenure at Auburn, he helped coordinate the program's recruiting, scouting and practice preparation efforts, in addition to halftime adjustment and game narration duties.

Prior to his time at Auburn, he spent a year at Texas A&M where he was a defensive analyst and helped with the defensive line and outside linebacker position groups. His Aggies squad ranked as the No. 1 total defense unit in the SEC and ranked No. 5 nationally in tackles for loss and No. 7 in sacks per game.

He was on the staff at his alma mater for three seasons (2020-2022) at Maryland, working as a graduate assistant on the defensive side of the ball. He worked primarily withe the defensive line and outside linebackers, including mentoring All-B1G players Sam Okuayinonu, Ami Finau and Mosiah Nasili-Kite.

During his time as a player, he saw action in 53 games on Maryland's defensive line and earned a starting job for the final nine games of the 2019 (senior) season. He was a five-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and played for three different head coaches in a six-year stint.

A native of Edinboro, Pa., he was a standout at General McLane High School where was an all-state and all-region player for coach Jim Wells with starting roles on both sides of the ball. He was a three-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals out of high school.

He earned his undergraduate degree in Geographic Information Services from the University of Maryland in 2018. He also earned two post-graduate degrees from Maryland with a masters in Professional Studies (2021) and graduate certificate in Terrorism Analysis (2019).