West Texas A&M Director of Athletics, Michael McBroom, announced Monday at a press conference that associate head coach women’s basketball coach Kristen Mattio has been hired as the new head coach of the Lady Buffs. Mattio replaces Mark Kellogg who was hired as head women’s basketball coach at Stephen F. Austin Sunday.
“I am thrilled to have Kristen as the new head coach for Lady Buff Basketball,” McBroom said. “She has worked her entire professional coaching career for this opportunity, and we are fortunate that it be with WT. I have been thoroughly impressed with her drive, preparation and commitment to excellence in all areas. She is a terrific person and brings a great attitude to campus each day.”
Mattio (MA-TEE-O), served under Kellogg the past two seasons as the Lady Buffs went 62-6 with two Elite Eight appearances and one national runner-up finish. The Lady Buffs won two Lone Star Conference regular season and tournament titles, while winning two South Central Region Tournament championships. She has been the main recruiting coordinator for the Lady Buffs, as well as coaching the guard position, academic coordinator, leader of the summer camp program and opponent scouting.
“I feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity to be the next head women’s basketball coach at West Texas A&M,” Mattio said. “I would like to thank Michael McBroom and Dr. O’Brien for this opportunity. This is a first-class academic institution with incredible people and a passionate community. Our basketball program has had a lot of recent success and I look forward to the challenge of keeping the momentum going in the right direction. This is the right time and the right fit for me as a coach.”
She also was under Kellogg for one season at Northwest Missouri State prior to Kellogg being hired at WT, and she was the top assistant for Kellogg at Fort Lewis College for five years. While at FLC, she helped coach the Skyhawks to a 143-20 record and a 93-8 record in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, capturing three-straight RMAC regular season titles and two RMAC tournament championships in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
While at Fort Lewis, Mattio helped the Skyhawks advance to the NCAA Tournament each season. The highlight, however, was the 2009-2010 season which saw the Skyhawks go 35-4 and advance to the national championship game.
Not only did Mattio help on the court, she also played a vital role in the academic success of the Skyhawks as the team earned Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Honor Roll accolades three straight seasons. The 2010-11 squad finished with the highest team GPA in NCAA Division II and was the top-ranked team in all five levels – Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior college of women’s basketball.
“Kristen understands our mission, our high expectations on the court and in the classroom, and the imperative that our student-athletes have a first-class experience at WT,” McBroom added. “She is going to do an outstanding job and carry on the proud tradition of Lady Buff basketball.”
Prior to Fort Lewis, Mattio spent one season as the assistant coach at Memphis Central High School in Memphis, Tenn., helping her team to a 25-8 record. While in Memphis, Mattio also worked with and coached youth at Memphis Athletic Ministries.
She also served as an assistant coach at Montana State from 2003-2005. While at MSU, Mattio was responsible for team academics, film exchange, recruiting and community affairs. Mattio also as an assistant coach at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., and spent one season as an assistant at her alma mater Evangel University in Springfield, Mo., where her team reached the Elite Eight in the NAIA Division II National Championship posting a 29-9 record.
While in college, Mattio played point guard and was a team captain for the Lady Crusaders while in college and was instrumental in leading Evangel to the NAIA Division II Sweet Sixteen. She led her team to two NAIA tournament appearances and three Heart of America Conference titles (2000-2003). Mattio was a two-time all-conference selection and as a freshman she played at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Mattio graduate from Evangel in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing/management. She earned her master’s degree from Austin Peay in 2006 in sports and wellness leadership.
http://gobuffsgo.com/news/2015/5/12/WBB_0512155942.aspx
Photo Courtesy West Texas A&M Athletics
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