Keiser Director of Athletics Kris Swogger announced on Tuesday the hiring of Matthew Strickland as the next head coach of the Keiser women’s basketball program.
“We are thrilled to welcome Matthew Strickland to the Keiser family as our new head women’s basketball coach,” Swogger said. “His passion for the game, commitment to student-athlete development, and strong track record of success makes him the perfect fit to lead our program. We’re excited about the future of Keiser women’s basketball under his leadership.”
“I am honored to be selected as the next Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Keiser University,” Strickland said. “I would like to thank President Dr. Vonk, Director of Athletics Kris Swogger, and the rest of the hiring committee for the opportunity to be apart of such a prestigious University. Keiser is a special place, with rich tradition both academically and athletically. I will work hard each and every day to ensure our Women’s Basketball program is highly competitive on the basketball court, but also to develop our student-athletes to be successful in the classroom and in the community.”
Strickland brings over a decade of coaching experience to Keiser. A native of the west coast, Strickland’s most recent stop was Chandler, Arizona, where he served as the head coach of the Chandler-Gilbert Community College women’s basketball program (2024-25). Prior to his stint at CGCC, Strickland was the head women’s basketball coach at LSU-Shreveport. During his four-year stint with the Pilots, Strickland amassed a record 80-30 while leading LSUS to three NAIA Tournament Appearances (2020, 2021, 2023). He guided the Pilots to the 2021 Red River Conference Regular Season title and back-to-back RRAC Tournament crowns (2020 and 2021).
During those four years (2019-23), LSUS produced 17 RRAC All-Conference selections, two RRAC Players of the Year and three NAIA All-Americans. The Pilots also saw success off the court as the team produced a 100 percent graduation rate.
Before becoming the women’s head coach at LSUS, Strickland spent the 2018-19 academic year as an assistant coach for the Pilot’s men’s team. During that season, LSUS went 23-11 and advanced to the NAIA Sweet 16. Strickland coached five all-conference players and three all-Americans. The Pilots claimed the RRAC Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year that season.
Before arriving in Shreveport, Strickland was the associate head coach at Montana Western (2016-18). During his time the Bulldogs won the 2018 Frontier Conference Championship and made two runs to the NAIA National Tournament Sweet 16 and in 2018 reached the Elite Eight. He coached four NAIA All-Americans and five all-conference players.
Strickland began his coaching career as an assistant coach of the women’s basketball program at Gillette College in Gillette, Wyoming. In two seasons as the assistant, he helped the Lady Pronghorns to its first Region IX Championship and NJCAA DI Women’s National Tournament appearance. He coached one NJCAA DI All-American and four Region IX players. He also helped eight players receive full athletic scholarships to NCAA DI, DII, and NAIA programs.
A native of Ingelwood, California, Strickland earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Rocky Mountain College in 2015. He earned his master’s in educational leadership from LSU-Shreveport in 2019.
