Coach Matt has been with The Sharks since 2024 starting as the head coach of the 8U team and then moving on to coach 10U. Coach Matt’s hockey journey didn’t begin playing youth hockey like most coaches but watching the Toledo Storm of the ECHL with his dad at The Sports Arena in Toledo, OH since the age of 5. This was the beginning of learning to love the game of hockey and everything about it.

Coach Matt moved to Cleveland in 2009 and started playing hockey in 2011 at the age of 25 after some convincing by his wife’s cousin who played for Padua in the early 2000's. Since then, Coach Matt has continued to develop his skills on the ice which has directly translated to being able to teach these same skills to his players on his teams. Coach Matt currently plays in an adult hockey league in Strongsville and is teammates with Coach Adam of the 12U team.

Coach Matt resides in Independence with his wife Rachael, daughter Emerson and his son Leo, who plays for the Sharks. When he’s not on the ice, Coach Matt is a firefighter/paramedic with the Cleveland Airport Fire Department and the EMS Program Director at Auburn Career Center in Concord, OH.

Coach Matt’s enthusiasm, passion and commitment for his players, his team and the game of hockey is evident from his planning of practices to the game-day plans to his coaching attire for game days and tournaments.

Coach Matt wants his players to love the game of hockey, progress over the season with their hockey skills, be good students at school and be respectful and courteous individuals.

Coach Matt is proud of his players no matter if it’s one game or 6 years, if you’ve been a player for Coach Matt, you will always be his player and you will always have his support and excitement no matter what team you continue on to!