NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Matt Righter, who has served as an assistant coach at Johns Hopkins University for the past five seasons, has been named the head baseball coach at the State University of New York at New Paltz, as announced Friday by New Paltz director of athletics Stuart Robinson. Righter will begin his duties on Aug. 1.
"We are truly excited to have someone of Matt's pedigree and background to take over our baseball program," Robinson said. "Matt's experiences as a student-athlete, a professional athlete and coach bring attributes that impressed the search committee and those involved with the process. His knowledge and innovative ways of coaching our student-athletes will position our baseball team to be successful under his leadership. We look forward to welcoming him and his wife, Alli, to the New Paltz community."
Righter, a former pitcher in the Detroit Tigers' organization who advanced as high as Triple-A, worked as an assistant coach at his alma mater—Johns Hopkins—from 2009-13. While at Johns Hopkins, he served as the head pitching coach in addition to being the program's recruiting coordinator. During his five years there, the Blue Jays went 161-64-2, won three Centennial Conference titles from 2009-11 and qualified for the NCAA Division III College World Series in 2010. Furthermore, Johns Hopkins won five out of five Centennial Conference regular-season titles during his tenure with the Blue Jays.
His pitching staff improved from a 5.66 ERA in 2009 to a 3.27 ERA in 2013. The Blue Jays qualified for the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Tournament four out of his five years as an assistant coach at Johns Hopkins, and they twice made it to a regional championship game, going 4-2 in the South Regional in 2009 before taking the Mid-Atlantic Regional title in 2010. He has mentored three pitchers who have gone on to play professionally, and he coached two different national players of the year in 2010: Dave Kahn, the D3baseball.com National Player of the Year and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) National Player of the Year, and Brian Youchak, the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings National Player of the Year.
Prior to becoming a full-time college coach, Righter played professional baseball in the Detroit Tigers' organization from 2004-08 as well as for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League—an independent league—in 2009. Righter, whose 21st-round selection in the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft served as Johns Hopkins' highest-ever pick at the time, went on to play for the Toledo Mud Hens—the Tigers' Triple-A affiliate. In his five seasons playing professional baseball, he achieved an 18-15 record and a 4.26 ERA.
Righter's coaching experience began in 2004, helping out Johns Hopkins' baseball team during the non-traditional portion of its schedule in the fall. He served in that capacity until becoming a full-time assistant coach in 2009. In addition to his duties as an assistant baseball coach at Johns Hopkins, Righter worked as an assistant men's basketball coach with the Blue Jays in 2012-13.
Prior to becoming a coach and a professional baseball player, Righter played four years of varsity baseball and men's basketball at Johns Hopkins. The Blue Jays won four Centennial Conference baseball championships while he was an undergraduate student-athlete. In 2004, he was an integral part of a Blue Jay team that started the season 33-0 and was ranked No. 1 in Division III. Righter was named Johns Hopkins' "Male Athlete of the Year" after being named All-Conference in both sports.
In addition to his coaching and playing experiences, Righter is the founder and owner of eBaseball Training, which he started in 2010. He created the company to help amateur baseball players develop mechanics, confidence and approaches to all positions that will help them reach their playing goals. He developed and currently operates the company's website, www.ebaseballtraining.com.
"My wife, Allison, and I are really excited about coming to New Paltz," Righter said. "We think the entire athletics and academic environment at New Paltz is heading in a great direction. With such a healthy environment, positive leadership and a commitment to excellence, I believe our baseball team will soon become a contender at the highest level."
Righter received his Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins in 2004, and in 2009, he earned his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix while playing at the Double-A level in the Tigers' organization.