Peter Mattera, the longest-tenured head coach at San Diego State and one of the most successful coaches in the nation, announced today that he is retiring as the head women’s tennis coach at SDSU.
Mattera recently finished his 33rd season on The Mesa by winning the Mountain West regular season championship for a fourth time. Since taking over as head coach in 1993, Mattera guided San Diego State to 22 winning seasons and 14 berths in the last 28 NCAA tournaments. His career record of 430-327 (.568 winning percentage) came while playing among the most difficult schedules in the nation year in and year out.
The Aztecs also won three Mountain West tournament titles under Mattera’s watch, including two of his final four seasons (2022 and 2024) at the helm.
“I want to first thank by beautiful wife, Beth, and my incredible daughters Kayley and Torre, for their undying love and support in this long journey in a life that is not always easy on family,” said Mattera. “Secondly, I want to thank Aztec Hall of Famer Carol Plunkett, who took a chance on me and offered me a job as her assistant. She taught me so much, not just how to do the job, but how to do it with grace, compassion, and gratitude. I’ll be forever grateful to her for her kindness and mentorship. I tried to incorporate the things she taught me into my career, and I hope I was successful.
“To all the players that I have had the privilege to coach in my career, no words can properly express how much I value and appreciate you. Your hard work on the court, in the classroom and in your lives has elevated this program and the university in so many ways. Having the opportunity to watch you grow as people and players is the reason I got started in coaching. Thank you for allowing me to take this journey with you. I am truly blessed and forever grateful. Lastly, to my Aztec Athletics family over the last 40-plus years, it has been an absolute honor to work, share, laugh and celebrate with you. You are the best of the best and I am truly going to miss you all very much.”
SDSU finished 17-7 for a second consecutive campaign, matching its most wins since 2013. San Diego State went 9-1 in MW play for its most victories in league history.
“I am extremely grateful to Peter Mattera for his dedication to San Diego State University and our women's tennis program for a long and successful career,” San Diego State athletic director John David Wicker said. “He’s had a tremendous impact on countless student-athlete lives and leaves the program in a great place as he moves onto the next chapter of his life. Peter is truly an Aztec for life.”
Mattera, who has been coaching tennis at the Division I level for 45 years, was the assistant coach at SDSU for 12 years prior to taking over as head coach in January of 1993.
During Mattera's tenure with the Aztecs, the women's tennis program has been one of the nation's best. Winners of 13 conference championships, SDSU has consistently been ranked among the top 50 teams in the nation.
The SDSU women's tennis program has produced 35 All-Americans and has received invitations to 24 NCAA tournaments.
The Aztecs also boast five conference player-of-the-year awards, 24 all-league doubles teams and 51 all-conference singles selections under Mattera. In addition, SDSU's women's tennis coach has been honored as the Mountain West Coach of the Year three times, including back-to-back honors in 2012 and 2013.
After leading SDSU to the second round of the national championship and a 16-7 overall record in 1998, Mattera was named the NCAA West Regional Coach of the Year. In 2003, he earned conference coach-of-the-year honors after leading the Aztecs to a 22-6 mark. The 22 victories represented the most wins in a single season since 1985 when San Diego State won 26 matches. SDSU also claimed the regular season and postseason MW championships en route to the NCAA tournament.
Known for his emphasis on the complete student-athlete, Mattera's teams have earned 92 academic all-Mountain West awards in the last 16 seasons. During his tenure in San Diego, Aztec women's tennis has produced two NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients and three Academic All-Americans.
Mattera received his Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education at San Diego State in 1980, and master's in physical education from SDSU in 1991.
Mattera is married to Beth Mattera. He has two daughters, Kayley and Torre, and three granddaughters, Ainsley, Cameron, and Kacey.
Please consider honoring Coach Mattera’s legacy at San Diego State by making a donation to the SDSU Women’s Tennis Excellence Fund. A tribute in Coach Matter’s name allows us to recognize his impact on women’s tennis while supporting future women’s tennis student-athlete experiences.