Wittenberg Men's Volleyball Head Coach Nathan Matthews (2021-25)

Bio

Nathan Matthews was introduced as the third head coach in the history of Wittenberg University's men's volleyball program in 2021. He immediately engineered a dramatic turnaround of the Wittenberg program, receiving back-to-back MCVL Coach of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024.

In 2023, the Tigers secured their first MCVL Regular Season Championship in program history just 2 seasons removed from a last place finish during the 2021 season. The Tigers also reached new heights by receiving votes in the AVCA Top 15 Coaches Poll for the first time since 2016 after knocking off 2021 National Runner-Up Benedictine. The Men’s Volleyball program also received recognition as Wittenberg’s Men’s Academic Team of the Year.

The 2024 season saw the Tigers elevate once again by finishing the conference schedule with an undefeated record for the first time in program history. The undefeated run earned the Tigers their second consecutive MCVL Regular Season Championship and the right to host the MCVL Tournament for the first time. The 2024 Tigers dominated their way through conference play, finishing as the only MCVL team to hit over .300 during the conference season. Wittenberg also claimed their second consecutive Rookie of the Year award as Reese Monnin followed up Eli Halverson’s win in 2023.

• Midway through the 2025 season, Matthews announced that he had accepted a new position and was leaving Wittenberg. He was replaced by Jamie Peterson.

Matthews enjoyed a historic career in the Red & White, which included playing on the first intercollegiate 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 to earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship during the 2018-19 year.  

Matthews was the Technical Coordinator for the University of Kentucky’s women’s volleyball team for their historic 2020 National Championship run. In this role, Matthews was placed in charge of the Wildcats’ video breakdown in addition to creating analytics and scouting reports. The 2020 season saw Kentucky reach their first Final Four, first National Championship game, and win the first National Championship ever by an SEC team.

Matthews began his coaching career at Tecumseh High School in New Carlisle in 2016, leading the girls' team to an overall record of 13-10. In three seasons at Tecumseh, Matthews compiled a record of 42-28, posting winning records in each of those seasons (2016-18). Matthews earned Clark County Coach of the Year honors in his final season at Tecumseh. He also had success coaching boys' volleyball as an assistant coach for Ohio Valley Region High Performance, earning a pair of bronze medals in 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," Matthews said. "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."