Matt Schmidt enters his eighth season on the Dukes' staff in 2020-21. He was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2020-21 season after serving as an assistant coach during his first seven years at Duquesne. Schmidt, Duquesne’s offensive coordinator with over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, has been at the helm of one of the Atlantic 10’s most successful offenses since coming to the Bluff in 2013.
Despite graduating over 5,000 points the previous season, Schmidt’s offensive scheme led the Atlantic 10 in 2019-20 in points per game (69.1 ppg), field goal percentage (.424) and assists per game (15.6 apg), as the Dukes posted its fifth 20-win season over the past seven seasons. Libby Bazelak, who ranked 11th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage, thrived in Schmidt’s offense. During the 2019-20 season she ranked in the top-10 of eight different Atlantic 10 categories. She was selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team.
Since joining Dan Burt’s staff in 2013-14, the Dukes have led the Atlantic 10 in scoring offense (2x), scoring margin, field goal percentage (2x), free throw percentage and assists per game (2x). Duquesne has ranked at least fourth in the conference in points per game, field goal percentage and assists per game every season since 2014-15. The top three and six of Duquesne’s top 10 single-season point totals have come under Schmidt’s watch.
With the effective offense established, Duquesne has posted five 20 wins seasons and five trips to the postseason since 2013-14. Schmidt has coached four of the 11 top scorers in program history and seven of the 30 1,000-point scorers at Duquesne in just seven seasons. Under his tutelage, the Dukes have earned 21 all-conference honors which include April Robinson (2016 A-10 Co-Player of the Year and First Team, 2015 A-10 Second Team), Deva’Nyar Workman (2016 A-10 First Team and Sixth Woman of the Year), Chassidy Omogrosso (2018 A-10 First Team and 2019 A-10 Second Team, 2016 A-10 All-Rookie), Wumi Agunbiade (2014 A-10 Second Team), Julijana Vojinovich (2018 A-10 Second Team), Libby Bazelak (2020 A-10 Second Team), Raegan Moore (2014 A-10 Third Team), Amadea Szamosi (2017 A-10 Third Team) and Kadri-Ann Lass (2019 A-10 Third Team, 2016 All-Rookie).
In 2015-16, Schmidt helped coach Duquesne to a program record 28 victories and 13 Atlantic 10 Conference wins. The Dukes won their first-ever share of first-place in the A-10 and also advanced to their first appearance in the finals at the A-10 Championship. For the first time in program history, the Dukes played in the NCAA Tournament, earning a #9 seed in the Bridgeport Region. Duquesne won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game when they defeated #8 seed Seton Hall 97-76 in the First Round.
Before establishing Duquesne as one of the top offenses in the A-10, Schmidt served as the head coach of Armstrong Atlantic State in Savannah Georgia from 2008 to 2013. He led the Division II squad to 60 victories and 37 in the Peach Belt Conference during his tenure, including a signature 69-67 victory over #5 USC Aiken during his final season.
Prior to his time at Armstrong Atlantic, Schmidt served as the top assistant coach for legendary coach Nancy Winstel at Northern Kentucky from 2004 to 2008. As an assistant and recruiting coordinator, Schmidt helped the Norse to a 92-32 record in four seasons, including a Division II National Championship during his final season in Highland Heights.
Schmidt has also served as an assistant coach at The University of Findlay (2001-04), West Virginia (2000-01), and UMBC (1999-00). He began his collegiate coaching career at West Virginia as a graduate assistant in 1998.
Prior to coaching in college, Schmidt returned to his high school alma mater, Ferndale, as the head junior's boys basketball coach for the 1998 season.
In 1997, Schmidt was an assistant coach at Westmont Hilltop High School in his hometown of Johnstown, Pa. He helped lead the Hilltoppers to a 21-5 record and the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship.
As a student-athlete, Schmidt played collegiately at West Liberty State in Wheeling, W.Va. A member of the Dean's List, Schmidt was a four-time West Liberty State College Scholar Athlete while earning a degree in education. He earned a master’s of science in physical education at West Virginia University in 2000.
Schmidt and his wife, Brittany, have two sons Jackson and Zachary.
