SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MATT LYLES BELOW

Welcome Back! Playing an important role in the Broncos' Final Four run in 2005, Matt Lyles has returned to the Mission Campus as an assistant coach with the Bronco volleyball program. He will be involved in all aspects of the program, including the overall training of the team on a daily basis.  This will include practice planning and match preparation.

The former two-time All-America player at Long Beach State, Lyles was a Bronco assistant coach from 2003-07 and also volunteered with the program from 2008-09. While at Santa Clara, Lyles mentored All-American Cassie Perret '05, WCC all-time dig leader Caroline Walters '07, All-WCC players Kim McGiven '06, Brittany Lowe '09 and Krista Kelley '11, the 2007 WCC Freshman of the Year.

 "Matt is a training guru.  Matt brings a high level of technical training to our program, but his most important attribute is his ability to connect with the players and bring the best out of them," said Bronco head volleyball coach Jon Wallace.  "His style of coaching is extremely positive and encouraging.  He comes in with a background filled with knowledge and technical skills developed during his collegiate, National team and professional playing days.  Matt has instant credibility and respect with our team and they thoroughly enjoy training with him.  He brings so much to our program and we are thrilled to have him."

"I am fired up to be back with the Bronco volleyball program.  I missed coaching.  I have a passion for it, a passion for helping develop young women as both students and athletes – the whole person," said Lyles.  "I look forward to helping the team and coaches develop the same type of passion I have for the sport.  By all of us having great passion and superior work ethic, I am confident it will translate to great success." 

During Lyles' hiatus from coaching, he developed an ecommerce business named MattyLou's.  Matty Lou's is a one-stop shop for men looking for a wide variety of organic and natural skin and body care products.

"I wanted to do something for my first wife, Erika, who died of breast cancer in 2001. I wanted to make people aware, especially men, of skin care products that provide a healthier alternative," said Lyles.

As a top-level collegiate student-athlete, Lyles was a member of the 49ers squad that won the 1991 NCAA National Championship. During the team's run through the tournament, Lyles' performance earned all-tournament team honors following the championship match.

Prior to his time at LBSU, Lyles played for one season at Orange Coast Community College in Newport Beach for Bronco head coach Jon Wallace, who was an assistant at the time. While at OCC, Lyles led his team to the California State Community College Championship.

Following his collegiate career, Lyles played three seasons for the U.S. National Team. In 1991, he helped the Americans to a second-place finish at the World University Games in England and a fourth-place finish at the Pan-Am Games in Cuba. During the 1993 season he helped the U.S. to a victory at the World Championship Qualifier and a second-place finish at the Norceca Zone Championships. Lyles spent four years playing internationally, including the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons for Team Nesselande in Holland where he served as a player/coach and guided the squad to the Dutch Championship in 1998. 

Lyles also played pro beach volleyball on the AVP Tour from 1996 to 2003.

Lyles married the former Jamie Keith, a former volleyball standout for the University of Nevada, in 2006 in Los Gatos, Calif. The couple welcomed son Ethan in April 2008.  

What Others Are Saying About Coach Lyles

"I know Matt more as a former player than a coach. Matt, as a player, has a skill set when it comes to ball control and serve receive that many people believe is in the top percentile of passers this country has ever seen. Combine that with the fact that he has a really patient demeanor about him with so many technical skills, he is a really good selection for Santa Clara. With his all-around experience, playing internationally, playing on the college level and coaching at that level, playing for the national team and also beach volleyball – Matt has a really good background and he will make a huge impact on that program as a full-time coach," said USA Men's National Team head coach Alan Knipe.   "Off the court, you won't find a person that doesn't know him or that doesn't like him. He is really personable and really good at building relationships.  His personality will help the culture of any program he is a part of. He will make it easy for current players to want to talk to him and more importantly, he will be very good at recruiting because it will come across how sincere he is. If you are looking at college volleyball programs, you would want your daughter to play for a staff like Jon and Matt."

 "Even years after playing for Matt, I still look up to him," said former All-WCC Bronco player Kim McGiven '06. "He was more than a coach, he was also a mentor and a teacher. I am still competing on the beach volleyball circuit and I find myself looking back at a number of the different things that Matt taught me and many are still with me on and off the court.  He is extremely knowledgeable about the game, he has strong character and he genuinely cares about the athletes he coaches.  He loves the sport of volleyball and it shows."

"We are excited to have Matt coming back to Santa Clara as a full-time volleyball coach.  He was such an integral part of our Final Four team in 2005," said Bronco Athletic Director Dan Coonan.  "He brings a credibility borne of both his playing days and coaching experience that is difficult to match.  Additionally, he has always had such terrific rapport with the young women in the program, and is such a positive influence on them.  Beyond all that he is a pleasure to be around.  This is a great moment for Santa Clara volleyball."

 "Matt Lyles has wisdom and experience that has accumulated in both the sport of volleyball and life in general," said 2007 WCC Freshman of the Year and Bronco alum Krista Kelley '11.  "He handles the sport with a sense of calm that makes learning from him easy and fun. Matt has always been willing to put forth an extra effort to improve the players by staying after practice for individual and position work. He will bring knowledge of the game to Santa Clara's program as a successful former player as well as a coach. Matt Lyles will be a great asset to Santa Clara Volleyball, and I applaud Jon Wallace for bringing Matt back into SCU's program.  Matt is one of the most influential coaches I have ever had in my life, and I know Santa Clara, and especially the players, will benefit from having him there."

 "Having Matty on board with us this year is going to help our team tremendously," said Bronco volleyball rising-senior Kayla Lommori.  "He brings so much positive energy each and every day.  He truly believes in each and every one of us.  His consistent attitude and confidence in the program is going to help us accomplish what we want and make our experience one that we will never forget."

"I'm so excited to have Matty join our staff this year," said Bronco volleyball rising senior and All-WCC player Kaleigh Durket. "He adds so much positive energy and passion for the game in everything he does.  He is not only going to bring an immense knowledge of volleyball, but also an excitement to be in the gym everyday."

"Matt is one of the most motivated and hard working coaches I know, said Bronco volleyball rising junior Katherine Douglas.  "I'm confident that his dedication and excitement involved in taking on this role with our team is going to ensure improvement and success in the Bronco volleyball program."

"Matt will be a huge asset to our team this year," said Bronco volleyball rising sophomore Katy Schatzman. "He brings a new, fun energy to the gym and motivates us to get better every day."