After 22 years as Director of Athletics at Washington College and a total of 38 years working in higher education, Dr. Bryan Matthews has announced his retirement from the institution, effective July 7th. Matthews has presided over the College’s Athletic Department during an era of expansion and success on multiple fronts.
Thad Moore, currently the College’s Deputy Athletic Director and Head Athletic Trainer, will serve as Interim Director of Athletics following Matthews’s retirement.
A 1975 graduate of Washington College, Matthews returned to his alma mater in 1978 to spend four years as head men’s lacrosse coach and Assistant Director of Admissions. He then served as head men’s lacrosse coach and a tenured professor of Physical Education at the United States Naval Academy for 12 years before returning to the College as Director of Athletics in 1994.
“I am forever grateful for all that Washington College has meant to my personal and professional life,” remarks Matthews. “I met my bride of 39 years here and was given my first real job here, which led to a position at the Naval Academy. That position, in turn, led me to return home.”
Since Matthews took the reins 22 years ago, the department has added two varsity programs (women’s soccer and co-ed sailing) and increased the number of full-time coaching and staff positions from 13 to 31. The College’s varsity women’s programs have particularly benefitted from an increase in both staffing and resources. A substantial increase in support and facilities for intramurals, club sports, and recreational and fitness activities has led to a dramatic rise in participation and engagement by students, faculty, and staff in those areas. Annual fundraising revenue for the department has increased seven-fold during Matthews’s tenure.
Perhaps the most easily visible area of departmental growth with Matthews as Athletic Director has been facilities. Matthews played a key role in the construction of Schottland Tennis Center, Roy Kirby Jr. Stadium, the current Washington College softball field, and Athey Park. Cain Athletic Center has seen the addition of numerous offices, a complete overhaul of locker rooms, the addition and expansion of athletic training space, multiple renovations to its Hall of Fame space, and both cosmetic and functional improvements to both the playing area and seating space inside Russell Gymnasium. The Johnson Fitness Center has seen its own renovations to office and locker room space, surface and other upgrades inside the field house, and a major expansion to its strength-training and cardiovascular areas. An expansion and renovation of Casey Swim Center was completed just last year.
Throughout his tenure, Matthews has also fostered and encouraged departmental growth outside of more traditional areas. He initiated and led the task force that created the College’s mascot Gus, oversaw the introduction of live streaming of varsity athletic events, and instituted programs focused on student-athlete career development and professional development for coaches. This past fall, he introduced DELTA (Developing Ethical Leadership Through Athletics), a leadership program for student-athletes. In 2014, his Athletic Department Strategic Plan, a medium- and long-term map for athletic excellence, was approved by the College’s Board of Visitors and Governors.
Over the past 22 years, seven Washington College varsity sports have combined to win 29 Centennial Conference and Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (MARC) Championships, including the first-ever conference titles for field hockey, softball, and men’s and women’s rowing. The 1997 men’s tennis and 1998 men’s lacrosse teams won their respective NCAA Division III National Championships. Washington College varsity student-athletes have earned All-America honors 154 times since Matthews took over as Athletic Director and the department’s head coaches have won 20 Centennial and MARC Coach of the Year awards since 2009 alone.
In the true spirit of Division III, Washington College student-athletes during Matthews’s tenure have excelled in the classroom and in their post-graduate lives. Annually comprising 25-30% of each incoming class, the College’s varsity student-athletes retain and graduate at significantly higher rates than the general student body and, as a group, perform academically on-par or better than their non-athlete counterparts. Sixty of this year’s 62 graduating varsity student-athletes have already secured a job, internship, or post-graduate academic opportunity for next year.
Matthews has served Washington College in various roles outside of athletics during the past two decades. He has served as Assistant to the President for Special Projects since 2014 and held the position of Associate Vice President of Administrative Services (overseeing both Public Safety and Dining Services at different points during that tenure) from 2005 to 2014. He also spent two years as Interim Vice President and Dean of Students from 2004 to 2006.
Beyond his professional obligations, Matthews has given his time to both the world of college athletics and the local community. He previously served on the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Committee, spending one year as chair, and had a three-year term on the US Lacrosse Board of Directors. He has served on various United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) committees since 1990. He has been a member of the Board and a coach for the Kent County Character Counts program since 2004 and previously served on the Kent School Board, Kent County’s Horizons Program Board, and the Kent County High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee. He was also a part of three external reviews of college and university athletic department and sport management programs.
Matthews was inducted into Washington College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996 on the strength of his playing career as an All-American lacrosse goalie and his time as head coach. He received the President’s Distinguished Service Award from the College in 2007. During his coaching career, he was named both the Division III and Division I Coach of the Year by the USILA in 1982 and 1986, respectively. In addition to his B.A. in Political Science from Washington College, he earned an M.A. in Psychology from the school in 1986. He went on to receive an educational doctorate in Educational Leadership and Innovation from Wilmington (Del.) College in 2001.
“Who gets to spend 26 years at their alma mater, do jobs they love, and raise their family in paradise?,” Matthews adds. “Thirty-eight years at two of the greatest colleges in America. It’s been fun and all I can say is, ‘Thank you.’ “
John Hudson says
Congratulations Brian! As a local young lad shagging lacrosse balls at WC’s games. I can remember how amazing you were as an All American Goalie. As busy as you were for 22 year for WC. I doubt very much that you will slow down during retirement. I wish you and Sue the very best in retirement. Regards, Johnny Roe
Joe Lill says
Johnny Roe,
You were only 7 when Brian was a student at Washington College…….how can you remember that?
Your Friend,
Joe
John Hudson says
Thank you Joe,
Amazing right, you should have been there to see Brian play! I even have very fond memories before watching Brain play. Of watching another former Alum, and also an All American Mid-Fielder at WC….Peter Boggs. Who also use to work for Mary Jean painting apartments to supplement his spending money. Those were the good ole days when all local Chestertown fans were called “WC’s STX Supporters”. We all were very loyal and extremely passionate WC’s Lacrosse fans!!! We never missed WC’s home games!! All the best, JR
Joe Lill says
I have very fond memories of those days….but needed to give you a hard time! I think Brian is not done and will leave a definable local post WC legacy!
All the best…right back at ya!