Coach Matt has been synonymous with NC basketball for a few years now, but none more so than at the Hoops and Stars program where he has been coaching since 2014. Coach Matt is stepping away from the Hoops program in 2021 to spend more time with his family, which is well deserved after 6 years of Wednesday night’s away from home.

Since Matt started coaching Hoops in 2014 the program has grown in leaps and bounds. Coach Matt has made such an impact on many of the kids that have come through the Hoops program. Over 300 kids a year have seen Matt’s positive smile, experienced his welcoming high-five and enthusiastic coaching. The Hoops program is not only about coaching kids in basketball, it is about providing NC Tamariki with a positive sporting experience, and growing their skills in life, of which we couldn’t have asked for a better role model and coach than Matt.

Outside of Hoops and Stars, Matt is still and will be heavily involved in the NC basketball community. Matt is a club and representative coach, a committee member who does far to much work to help make the club tick - all of our new club gear is a testament to Matt’s Mahi. Matt is also heavily involved in the running of our events, and the Golf Tournament is his little baby!

Matt’s children are also heavily involved in the basketball community. Blake, is a currently player and coach for NCBA, while youngest Koopa has just finished his first season of Friday Night basketball at Kaiapoi North School!

Matt’s contribution to the NC community was recognized when he was a finalist for the 2019 North Canterbury Sport and Recreation Trust’s Coach of the Year, while he also won the North Canterbury Basketball 2019 “Mark Whittaker” Service to Basketball Award.

On behalf of NCBA we sincerely appreciate all of Coach Matt’s time and effort across our programs and community, and he will be sorely missed on a Wednesday night at Hoops.

Article added: Wednesday 09 December 2020