Volleyball News

Kurt Matthews Named New Volleyball Head Coach

The Oglethorpe University athletics department is pleased to announce the hiring of Kurt Matthews to the position of Head Volleyball Coach. Matthews joins the Oglethorpe athletics family after several years of coaching and promoting volleyball at the club level as well as on college campuses.

Matthews, who officially begins his tenure July 1st, spent 3 years as an Assistant Coach at the University of Arkansas and one year with Piedmont College.
 
While at Arkansas, he was mentored by 2-Time SEC Coach of the Year, Chris Poole. During his tenure with the Lady'Backs, the program achieved 3 NCAA appearances as well as winning 3 SEC Western Division Championships. Kurt primarily worked with the Libero's, team & individual defense as well as the setters.
 
At Piedmont College he coached under 2-Time Great South Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, Katie O'Brien and was a part of a staff that led the program to it's first ever GSAC Championship. Coach Matthews primarily was in charge of team training during practices.  
 
As a NCAA Division I & III assistant coach, Coach Matthews has a record of 98-37 with a winning % of .721.
 
Coach Matthews is also the former Owner/Director for the Ozark Junior Olympic program located out of Arkansas. Under his direction the fledgling club expanded from 11 returning players to well over 400 members in his four years and gained a national reputation. Ozark produced the state's first ever Top 30 recruit, members of the National High Performance Programs, numerous prep All Americans, as well as producing a number of Division I, II, and III performers. Ozark placed athletes to The University of Arkansas, Kansas State, Mississippi State, University of Hawaii, Arkansas State, as well as a host of other programs. Ozark was featured on www.prepvolleyball.com for its growth under his direction.
 
Matthews has been actively involved in the Atlanta Volleyball Community for well over 18 years including managing various Junior Olympic Volleyball programs, administering adult leagues & tournaments, participating on competitive adult USA Volleyball Men's A/AA teams, and hosting a number of camps/clinics for both children and adults. He has coached numerous college camps including University of Arkansas, University of Alabama, Emory University, and East Tennessee State University.
 
Coach Matthews is a graduate of Georgia Southern University with a degree in Recreation Administration and currently resides in Berkeley Lake, GA.