The fifth head coach in UMass women's soccer history, Ed Matz, enters his second season at the helm in 2011. In his first year with the Minutewomen in 2010, Matz led the team to its highest win total since 2007 and a second consecutive berth into the Atlantic 10 tournament. In addition, Matz coached four individuals to All-Atlantic 10 honors, the most for UMass in nearly a decade, and one All-Region selection, Therese Smith. Matz came to UMass in Jan., 2010, after leading Northeastern to two of the most successful seasons in the program's history. He was tabbed the 2009 Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year after guiding the Huskies to their first ever CAA regular season title with a 7-1-3 record in conference play and a 12-4-3 mark overall. In 2008 under his direction, Northeastern won the CAA Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. In his coaching tenure with the Huskies - nine seasons with the men's team (1996-2004) and 11 with the women's (1999-2009) - Matz posted a combined record of 182-165-41. Both teams were struggling when he was named director of soccer in 1999, though it did not take long for him to put them on a winning course. The men's team won 10 or more games in five of its last six seasons with Matz on the sidelines, and in 2002, Northeastern captured its first America East conference title in men's soccer. He was tabbed America East Coach of the Year in both 2000 and 2002. Matz shifted his attention solely to the NU women's squad in 2005 when the university hired a head coach for its men's program. After Northeastern had posted losing records in its first three seasons in America East, Matz took over as coach and led the women to winning records in their final five years in the conference. In 2005, the team made the jump to the highly-competitive CAA, and by 2006, Matz took the Huskies to their first CAA Tournament. Matz's teams have succeeded athletically and academically, and for six straight years (2004-2009) Northeastern earned NSCAA All-Academic honors under his direction. Matz's collegiate experience prior to his time with the Huskies came as a successful coach and recruiter for the women's soccer team at Castleton State College in Castleton, Vt. From 1989-93, Matz led his squad to four NAIA District V playoff appearances. His peers named him Mayflower Conference Coach of the Year in 1992, after earning Co-Coach of the Year honors in both 1990 and 1991. Matz left Castleton in 1993 and moved his coaching residence to Brookline, Mass., where he took the helm of the men's team at Newbury College. In his one and only season, he guided the team to 12 wins and a runner-up finish in the Southern New England Athletic Conference. In 1994, Matz joined Northeastern as an assistant men's soccer coach and became the program's head coach two seasons later. Before moving to the sidelines, Matz distinguished himself on the field as captain of the Green Mountain College men's soccer team in 1988 and 1989. Matz graduated with a degree in Recreation, was named to the Mayflower All-Conference and NAIA All-District teams, and in 1994 was inducted into the Green Mountain Hall of Fame. Matz currently serves as the Head Coach of the Massachusetts U15 Olympic Development Program. He also coached the U18 FC Greater Boston Bolts to a Mass. State Championship in 2007. Matz has his NSCAA National Coaching License and completed his master's degree in Sports Leadership from Northeastern in 2009. A native of Woodsville, N.H., Matz resides in Longmeadow with his wife Jenn and daughters Mckenzie (9), Ally (6) and Natalie (4). Updated 8/3/11 |
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