Matt Roden completed his fourth season in 2009-10 as the assistant track and field coach at Elon University and focuses primarily on the throwing events. Under Roden’s tutelage, Elon throwers have set new school records in all six throwing events (indoor/outdoor shot put, weight throw, hammer, discus and javelin). He has also helped 11 Elon student-athletes to All-Southern Conference honors over the past two seasons.
The 2010 track seasons proved to be the most successful in school history, as Roden guided Phoenix throwers to Southern Conference titles in the discus, shot put and javelin and saw Elon tracksters score in each of the throwing events at the Southern Conference Championship. In addition to the titles, Elon throwers broke school records in the indoor and outdoor shot put, weight throw, hammer, discus and javelin.
During the regular season, Elon throwers held the top spots in several events on the Southern Conference performance list. Justine Robertson was ranked first in the javelin and discus, while teammate Alyssa Girvin had the second-best throw in the discus. Urysla Cotton owned the top spot in the shot put.
Roden came to Elon from Conway, S.C., where he assisted the head strength & conditioning coach and the throws coach at Coastal Carolina University. He also spent four years as an assistant coach and clinic coordinator for the USATF Mjolnir Track and Field Club in Conway. He planned and coordinated activities for the Annual Throws Clinic. Roden also directed sessions on weightlifting and nutritional supplementation as well as hammer and discus throw techniques.
The 2005 UNC Wilmington graduate competed on the track and field team that captured the 2005 Colonial Athletic Association championship. A four-time All-CAA honoree, Roden earned the conference title in the hammer in 2005. He was twice named CAA Athlete of the Week in 2005 and earned UNC Wilmington team field MVP honors. He set UNC Wilmington records in the hammer throw while out-performing the closest conference competition by 15 feet. Roden received NCAA All-East honors with his performance during the 2005 outdoor track & field season.
Roden spent his first two collegiate seasons at Coastal Carolina University and took the 2002 Big South Conference hammer throw title as a sophomore.
Roden has his USATF Level 1 and Level 2 Coaching Certification in the throws events. He is also a USATF Associate Level Official and is a member of the National Throws Coaches Association. Roden has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from UNC Wilmington and a Master of Science degree in Sport Management from California University of Pennsylvania. He resides in Burlington with his wife Katherine.
