Springfield, OH - Wittenberg University Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Brian Agler announced that Nathan Matthews '19 has been selected to return to his alma mater to become the third Men's Volleyball Head Coach in program history.
"It's great to welcome back Nathan back to Wittenberg where he graduated and competed on our first men's volleyball team," said Agler. "He's coming from a national championship staff at the University of Kentucky. His natural passion for Wittenberg along with his recent championship experience will help him build our program."
Matthews enjoyed a historic career in the Red & White, which included playing on the first varsity men's volleyball team in Wittenberg history, journeying all the way to closing out his career by helping Wittenberg claim its first conference regular-season title in program history. Matthews was one of 21 spring sport student-athletes across all NCAA Divisions that earned an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship during the 2018-19 year.
Matthews moved over to become the graduate assistant for the University of Kentucky women's volleyball program for their historic 2020 National Championship run. While on staff at Kentucky, Matthews served as technical coordinator for the women's volleyball program, breaking down film, creating scouting and statistical reports. Matthews also assisted with day-to-day operations, including team logistics and alumni and donor relations. Along the way in Lexington, Matthews was a 2020 AVCA Coaches 4 Coaches Scholar recipient. While in Lexington, Matthews served as a teaching assistant in the University of Kentucky's Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion for the 2019-20 academic year.
Matthews began his coaching career at nearby Tecumseh High School in April 2016, heading up the women's team and posting an overall record of 13-10. Matthews holds a career coaching career record of 42-28, posting winning records in each of his three seasons at the helm of the Tecumseh women's program from 2016 to 2018. Matthews earned Clark County Coach of the Year honors, in his final season at Tecumseh. Matthews also had success coaching the men's side, as an assistant coach for Ohio Valley Region High Performance, earning a pair of Bronze Medals in both 2018 and 2019.
"I want to thank the entire committee for giving me the opportunity to come home to Wittenberg and lead a program that is so special to me," said Matthews. "In 2015, I committed to being a part of the recruiting class that established Wittenberg Men's Volleyball because I knew this program had the potential to be something special. With the addition of the best facilities in the country and Brian Agler's leadership, I have never been more confident that Wittenberg Men's Volleyball has a very bright future ahead."
Matthews takes over a Wittenberg men's team that graduated just one senior in 2021.