EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Matt Siverling has been selected as head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's basketball team, Director of Athletics Scott Kilgallon announced today.
Members of the media and community are invited to a press conference at 3 p.m. Monday, May 21, in the McPhee Physical Education Center.
"While we had a strong pool of applicants and brought four very good finalists to campus, we feel that Matt is the best fit to successfully lead the Blugolds," Kilgallon said.
Siverling becomes just the 10th coach in Blugold men's basketball history. The position came open following the departure of Kyle Green after he served one year as head coach. During the 2011-12 season, Green guided the Blugolds to a 15-10 overall and 7-9 conference record, narrowly missing the conference tournament.
"I am truly honored and humbled to be the new head men's basketball coach at UW-Eau Claire," Siverling said. "This is an excellent opportunity, and I am extremely excited to once again be part of this outstanding university and the Blugold Athletics program."
Siverling has previous experience with the Blugolds, serving as an assistant for the men's basketball team from 2004-07 and also as an assistant men's and women's golf coach for two seasons (2004-05). He was also an associate lecturer in the Kinesiology Department from 2004-07. A 2002 graduate of UW-Eau Claire, Siverling began his coaching career as an assistant for the Eau Claire North High School boy's basketball team while he was an undergrad.
After finishing his undergrad work at UW-Eau Claire, Siverling attended the University of Florida to earn his Master's Degree, which he received in 2004. During his time in Florida, he was as a graduate assistant for the men's basketball team before coming back to Eau Claire after graduation.
Following his three-year stint as an assistant with the Blugolds, Siverling left to serve three seasons as a program specialist at the University of Arkansas, an NCAA Division I school in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Most recently, Siverling served as head men's basketball coach at UW-Superior for the last two seasons. With the Yellowjackets, Siverling led the team two straight WIAC Tournament appearances and during the 2011-12 season coached them to an 8-8 conference record, their best WIAC mark since the 2000-01 season. Over the past two years, Siverling has compiled a 29-24 overall and 14-18 conference record.
A Ladysmith native, Siverling is married to Lori, who is also a UW-Eau Claire graduate. He and his wife currently have two daughters, Addison (5) and Brayln (4). They are expecting their third child in the fall. Siverling will begin his head coaching duties at UW-Eau Claire on August 20.
-KM-
