Matt Wise on Navigating the Highs and Lows (EP420)

Samford women's basketball head coach Matt Wise reflecting on his first year as head coach and the team's remarkable turnaround season. Wise discussed the challenges of starting with a difficult non-conference schedule that included five Power 5 opponents, leading to an early 1-6 conference start. He explained how the team's confidence and belief improved throughout the season, culminating in winning the Southern Conference Tournament Championship as the sixth seed and earning an NCAA tournament berth. The Bulldogs overcame a double-digit deficit in the championship game to advance to the NCAA First Four, finishing the season with an overall record of 16-19.

Wise shared insights about roster retention, strategic adjustments including shifting to a tougher defensive lineup, and the importance of maintaining team culture during the tournament run. He emphasized the value of staff alignment and staying true to coaching principles, while noting that the current landscape of college basketball requires constant creation and adaptation due to high roster turnover.

Wise has extensive previous coaching experience, including serving as a Graduate Assistant for the University of Florida’s men’s basketball program, two stints as an Assistant Coach at the University of Wyoming (where he was part of the 2015 Mountain West Tournament title and NCAA berth), an Assistant Coach at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, and an Assistant Coach at East Tennessee State University. He also worked as Director of Video & Creative Content for the University of Alabama’s women’s basketball team during the 2021-22 season, before serving as Assistant and later Associate Head Coach for Samford University’s women’s basketball program from 2022 to 2025.