ELON, N.C. – Elon University Director of Athletics Dave Blank introduced Matt Matheny, a member of the Davidson College men’s basketball coaching staff the past 16 years, as the Phoenix’s 17th head men’s basketball coach during a press conference held Sunday afternoon in the Koury Athletic Center’s Atkins Room on the Elon campus.
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An assistant coach for 10 seasons (1993-2003) and the associate head coach for six campaigns (2003-09) for head coach Bob McKillop’s Wildcats, Matheny, 39, will now lead the Phoenix into the program’s 101st season this fall – 11th at the NCAA Division I level and seventh in the Southern Conference.
The former Wildcat football and basketball team captain had been an assistant coach on McKillop’s staff since Aug. 1, 1993. During their time on the bench together, Davidson collected 310 victories – over 19 wins per season – with 10 SoCon division titles, five SoCon tournament championships, five NCAA tournament appearances and four postseason NIT trips.
“We were looking for a leader with integrity, character and enthusiasm ... Someone that had demonstrated the ability to lead and win,” Blank said. “We were looking for someone that is committed to the importance of the co-existence of athletic and academic excellence, who has been in that environment and would understand what we need to do here at Elon University to maintain integrity in both areas. We landed on Matt Matheny.”
Matheny, who was born in Shelby, N.C., and grew up in Statesville, N.C., was a three-sport standout at North Iredell High School. During his college days, he lettered four years as a wide receiver for Davidson's football team and two years as a point guard for the Wildcats’ men’s basketball squad before graduating in 1992 with a bachelor of arts degree in history.
During Matheny’s time on the bench, Davidson produced 10 campaigns of 20 or more victories, three undefeated Southern Conference regular seasons, 26 All-SoCon players and six SoCon All-Freshman selections.
“Our program is going to revolve around student-athletes,” Matheny said. “Our mission is to give our student-athletes a wonderful college experience. That’s our mission. We are going to prepare these young men for life after Elon. That being said, we want to go the NCAA Tournament. That’s a goal of ours. Our everyday goal is to get better. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”
While coaching at Davidson, Matheny spent time serving as the team’s academic advisor, camp coordinator, strength and conditioning coordinator, recruiting coordinator, game schedule coordinator, game preparation and opponents scouting coordinator and staff liaison for the Fast Break Booster Club.
Davidson, which bowed out in last week's second round of the National Invitation Tournament, went 27-8 this season and 18-2 in the Southern Conference. Elon finished the campaign at 11-20 overall and 7-13 in the league.
Matheny and the former Jennifer Collins were married in June 2001. They are parents of Brock, a son born in April 2004, and Ava, a daughter born this month. Jennifer is a licensed Real Estate Broker.
