Matt Matoh has had some amazing experiences around the game of basketball.
From helping train NBA players such as Zach Lavine and Andrew Wiggins through the pre-draft process with Pure Sweat Basketball, to working as a skills coach at a Denver Nuggets basketball camp in 2015 that included a young and rising star in Nikola Jokic, Matoh has been around some of the biggest names on the court.
Now, the 31-year-old Cleveland, Ohio native will embark on a new adventure as he was announced as the head boys' basketball coach at Notre Dame High School on Monday.
"I could not be more excited to lead the Notre Dame boys' basketball program," Matoh said. "There is something special and kind of sacred about coaching and playing at the high school level with friends and a community that you grow up with. Chattanooga has become home and I can't wait to get started and serve such a great school here at Notre Dame."
Matoh spent the past six seasons as an assistant coach under Mark Price at Baylor School, where the Red Raiders compiled a 106-46 record (.697) with a state semifinals appearance in their first season.
"The hiring committee did an excellent job in vetting and interviewing several great candidates," Dr. Eric Schexnaildre said in a press release. Schexnaildre will begin as Head of School on July 1. "We are thrilled to add Matt to the Notre Dame High School family. He brings an extensive skill set and the leadership abilities that we were looking for in our next head coach."
In high school, Matoh was a three-sport athlete who played basketball, baseball and football. He then attended Belmont University in Nashville where he was a student manager for the Bruins from 2011-2015. He then served as a graduate assistant under legendary Belmont head coach Rick Byrd from 2015-17 before accepting a job as an assistant coach at Division II Cedarville University in Dayton, Ohio.
Since 2018 he has been a key part of the boys' basketball program at Baylor, where he has also served as the director of the middle school program.
"Coach Rick Byrd and Mark Price have been the greatest mentors to me," said Matoh, who was on staff at Belmont for three NCAA tournament appearances. "Both are elite basketball minds and great coaches, but are even better examples of men of character and integrity. So many other coaches around the area have also helped me prepare to be in a spot to lead a great basketball program like Notre Dame."
The Fighting Irish are just two years removed from a Division II-A state runner-up finish. Rising senior Gaas Herman is one of the brightest talents in town after averaging over 20 points per game and nearly eighth rebounds last season.
Matoh will have big shoes to fill after Jonathan Adams enjoyed a successful seven-year tenure with Notre Dame in which he compiled a 141-81 overall record to go with four regular season district titles and two district tournament titles. Adams took over as the boys' basketball coach at Dalton High School in early April.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.