University of Massachusets Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Location:
- Champions Center
Matt Figger was hired as the Assistant Coach at UMass on May 21, 2024. Figger spent ten seasons on Martin’s staff at Kansas State and South Carolina before head coaching stints at Austin Peay and UT Rio Grande Valley.
Coming to Amherst with a wealth of head coaching experience, Figger spent the last three seasons at UT Rio Grande Valley after four seasons leading Austin Peay. The 2017-18 OVC Coach of The Year, Figger compiled a 76-51 (.598) record, including a 49-25 (.662) mark in OVC play with the Governors. Figger secured two consecutive 20-plus win seasons, recording double-digit conference wins in all four years at the helm in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Engineering one of the NCAA’s largest defensive turnarounds, Figger became the first coach in program history to earn double-digit conference wins in his first two seasons. Under Figger’s tutelage, multiple players received All-OVC honors including two-time OVC Player of the Year and current NBA player Terry Taylor. Taylor recorded an NCAA-best 20 double-doubles in 2020-21 while also leading the NCAA in offensive rebounding at 5.15 per game.
Serving on staff under Martin at both South Carolina and Kansas State, Figger helped Martin lead both programs to new heights. As associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, Figger helped Martin bring the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Tournament win since 1973 and to the program's first-ever Sweet 16, Elite Eight, and Final Four appearances
From 2007-12 Figger worked as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Kansas State as part of Martin’s staff that secured at least 21 wins and finished fifth or better in the Big 12 all five seasons. A nationally recognized recruiter, Figger helped sign two McDonald's All-Americans at Kansas State, including 2008 National Freshman and Player of the Year Michael Beasley. During his time in Manhattan, Kansas Figger helped develop five All-Americans including Beasley and Jacob Pullen.
Prior to his time at Kansas State, Figger served a brief stint as the director of operations at Arkansas (April-June 2007), which followed five seasons as an assistant coach at South Alabama (2003-07).
Figger also spent 10 years as an assistant coach in the junior college ranks, including stints at Wabash Valley (1993-94), Vincennes (1994-99) and Odessa College (2000-02). His teams won 20 or more games eight times, captured six region and four district titles and advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament four times.
