Matt Hart enters his second season at San Diego State, bringing dynamic energy and a proven track record of success as Aztec head coach Jim Tomey[apos]s top assistant coach.
Hart, who has a wealth of coaching experience on both the prep and collegiate levels, is the Aztecs[apos] recruiting coordinator, having already established significant recruiting ties in the southern California area. Hart served in a similar role at USC and Long Beach State, where he helped sign several prep standouts, including San Diegan Greg Clark, the 49ers[apos] highest rated recruit ever.
[quote]Matt has been a tremendous asset to our program in all areas,[quote] Tomey said. [quote]He has done a terrific job heading our recruiting efforts and developing relationships with the kind of student-athletes that we want to represent San Diego State.[quote]
At SDSU, Hart is also in charge of scheduling, ordering equipment and camps. He assists coach Tomey with game and practice preparation and the scouting of opponents, while serving as the team[apos]s compliance and strength and conditioning contact.
Hart[apos]s on-court duties include working primarily with the team[apos]s post players and team defense.
[quote]This is an exciting time to be involved with San Diego State and its athletic department,[quote] Hart said. [quote]Working with Jim Tomey, who I have known for nine years, and who I have respected as being one of the finer technicians in the game of basketball, has been a great opportunity for me. I[apos]m excited about bringing high caliber student-athletes into this program and being able to have an impact on the future of women[apos]s basketball here at SDSU.[quote]
In his first season on The Mesa, Hart coordinated the Aztecs[apos] recruiting efforts, signing seven players from seven different states, while freshman forward Ashlee Dunlap led the conference in both rebounding (8.8/g) and double-doubles (10).
Hart came to San Diego following a successful 12-year career on both the collegiate and prep levels. He coached his teams to postseason tournaments in nine of 11 seasons, while posting winning records in 13 of his 14 campaigns.
Hart was the head boys[apos] basketball coach at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif., from 1998-2002. Under his direction, the Braves improved from 6-19 his first season to 24-7 and a spot in the CIF semifinals in his final campaign in 2001-02.
Prior to his stint at Bosco, Hart, 34, was the head boys[apos] coach at Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, Calif., from 1996-98. During his two seasons, Bishop Amat was a combined 39-17 with two trips to the CIF second round. His 1996-97 squad finished with a 23-5 record, earning him coach-of-the-year honors from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
In his six seasons as a high school head coach, Hart finished with an overall record of 104-64 (.619) and an 11-5 mark in the CIF playoffs.
Hart also has experience on the NCAA Division I level as an assistant men[apos]s coach at Long Beach State, his alma mater, and USC.
In his four seasons with the 49ers (1991-92, 1994-96) under head coach Seth Greenberg, Long Beach State won the Big West Conference Tournament three times, the regular season title once and advanced to the NCAAs in both 1992-93 and 1994-95. The later squad included two NBA draft picks in Lucious Harris (New Jersey Nets) and Bryon Russell (Washington Wizards).
At USC, Hart was the recruiting coordinator under former head coach George Raveling from 1993-94.
In addition to his coaching duties, Hart has a wealth of camp experience, serving as director of Greenberg[apos]s camps at LBSU and as commissioner of both the Nike All-America and Michael Jordan camps.
Hart owns two degrees from Long Beach State University, earning his bachelor[apos]s in physical education in 1992, and then following that up with his master[apos]s degree in 1998 in kinesiology.
He and his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Jordyn, reside in La Mesa.