While he edges closer to his 100th career victory as FGCU’s head volleyball coach Matt Botsford took time to reflect on the well-traveled road that brought him to this point.
Originally from California before residing in South Bend, Ind., Botsford was a standout player at Tri-State University (now Trine University) from 1995-98. There with the Thunder, he was a two-year captain and became the program’s all-time leader in kills, digs and blocks while being named an All-American Scholar Athlete his senior year.
“Volleyball always seemed like such a dynamic and fluid sport to me,” said Botsford, who will try for wins No. 99 and 100 this weekend when his FGCU Eagles visit New Jersey Institute of Technology and North Alabama. “I was attracted to the explosiveness of the game and the coordination of six players at such a limited playing space.”
After finishing his playing career at Tri-State at age 21, Botsford started his coaching career as interim head coach for both the men’s and women’s volleyball programs for his alma mater from November 1998 through June 1999.
After his half-year tenure as the Thunder's interim head coach, Botsford bounced around as an assistant coach with NCAA Division II Indianapolis (1999-2000), IUPUI (2001-2004), Miami (2004-2008; he served as recruiting coordinator), Notre Dame (2008-11; he served as the lead recruiter) and Colorado State (2012-14). During his tenure at Miami, Botsford received his master’s degree in business administration at Indianapolis.
During the offseason with IUPUI, Botsford began playing professional beach volleyball tours from 1998-2003 with the Midwest Professional Volleyball Association and the Extreme Volleyball Professionals League. He was named the EVPL’s Rookie of the Year in 2000. Botsford’s last pro volleyball stint was with the Vingaker Volleyball Club in Sweden from 2002-03.
“I got a late start in the sport. I didn’t begin playing until I was 18. So at the conclusion of my college career, I felt like I still had another level that I could reach,” said Botsford, who has also run FGCU’s beach volleyball program since his hiring in 2014. “I wasn’t ready to stop playing so I continued to train with a focus on going overseas for indoor. During the offseason, I continued to compete regionally on the beach side, since that is actually where I got my start.”
At Miami, Botsford helped solidify two of the highest-ranked recruiting classes in the relatively short history of the program, signing at least one top-100-rated player in each of his final three years and the Hurricanes’ first top-50 recruit. He coached two All-Americans and five All-ACC players, including Lane Carico, the 2011 ACC Player of the Year who was a key cog on three consecutive NCAA tournament teams.
During Miami’s offseason in 2007, Botsford scored a major opportunity: an assistant coach position for the USA Select Program. He helped train elite volleyball players in preparation for the U.S. national team. Botsford was also head coach of the USA Silver team, which won a bronze medal in the HP Global Championships.
“USA volleyball has done a great job of creating a pipeline for our youth players to be identified early by the national programs,” said Botsford. “But equally important is the opportunity they continue to present young coaches. I had an amazing experience working along some of the best coaches in the country and got the chance to really absorb the methods and philosophies that were being utilized.”
At Notre Dame, Botsford produced recruiting classes in 2010 and ’11 that media outlets ranked as the 13th and 15th best in the nation, respectively. The Fighting Irish made the NCAA tournament in 2009 after winning the Big East title and going 14-0 in conference play. In total, Botsford coached two All-Americans and six All-Big East performers, including the conference’s 2010 Freshman of the Year, Andrea McHugh.
At Colorado State, Botsford helped guide the Rams to two straight conference championships and NCAA tournament berths while also recording a program-best 27 consecutive wins in 2013.
Botsford continued to stay busy in his offseasons. While with Colorado State, he landed the head coaching job for Lindesberg Volley — part of Sweden’s Elite Series. He guided the club to its first-ever league title and automatic representation in European Cup play. Botsford coached four players who went on to play for Sweden’s national team.
“Each opportunity provided a chance to learn from someone new,” Botsford said. “I wanted the opportunity to watch how different coaches handled similar problems, so I could begin to form my own coaching philosophy.”
After his three-season tenure at Colorado State, Botsford was hired as the third head volleyball coach for FGCU on Feb. 10, 2014.
“My opportunity at FGCU actually came while I was at Colorado State,” said Botsford. “CSU has one of the most successful programs in the county along with one of the best fan bases that I have ever experienced. I was very happy and had a great mentor in Tom Hilbert; so I wasn’t actively looking for a new job. But, when the FGCU opportunity came about, it made sense to look closely at it.”
“I knew that if I was going to leave, it would take a very special place that I believed had the resources to sustain a winning program. FGCU checked all the boxes and I knew we could attract high level student-athletes here.”
On Aug. 29, 2014, Botsford made his coaching debut with the Eagles indoor volleyball team at the Miami Hurricane Invitational. In his first match, the Eagles defeated Florida A&M, 3-2. The 2014 team had players such as Olivia Mesner, Gigi Meyer (daughter of Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer), Vanessa Benke and Eleonora Kazarian (now Williams).
“I will always remember the group of seniors that I inherited,” said Botsford. “They were so focused and determined, I knew we would be able win right away.
“I think a lot of people expected that to be a down year for FGCU volleyball, but those players were not going to let that happen. They gave everything they had, and were so receptive of the coaching. They approached every practice with such intent and passion and just wanted to keep improving.”
Caroline Jordan played for FGCU from 2013-16. It didn’t take long for her to see where the Eagles were headed under Botsford’s leadership.
“We were all very excited that Coach Botsford was chosen as the new head coach,” Jordan said. “He brought with him a new intensity and passion for being the best. His attention to detail and competitive drills motivates us all to get better."
“It was great to be on the team that got him his first win as an Eagle. We knew it would be his first of many wins and it set a great tone for the season.”
Since Botsford’s arrival at FGCU, the Eagles have been a perennial contender for the Atlantic Sun title, winning at least 10 conference games each season from 2014-17.
Also, a slew of FGCU players have enjoyed standout seasons both athletically and academically under Botsford’s guidance. His teams have produced 15 A-SUN all-conference selections and six members of the A-SUN’s all-academic team.
Two current Eagles share in those accolades: senior Amanda Carroll (who’s won A-SUN Freshman of the Year, Player of the Year and Scholar Athlete of the Year) and sophomore Snowy Burnam (last year’s A-SUN Freshman of the Year).
FGCU’s breakout season under Botsford came in 2016. The Eagles went 27-6 overall and 11-3 in conference before losing to Lipscomb in the A-SUN championship match. One of the biggest moments from that season was when the Eagles defeated Indiana in five sets.
“I don’t know if I provided inspiration, but I did make sure that each (player) knew what they were capable of,” Botsford said. “All of our players have talent, so the real measuring stick is going to be what they do with that talent.
“Our job is to help them as best we can, to try and put them in positions where they can succeed. Provide the direction and resources and then see who is going to take full advantage.”
The first head coach of the FGCU volleyball program was Jaye Flood, who reached the 100-win plateau during her tenure from 2004-07. Flood earned her first win at FGCU on Aug. 27, 2004 when the Eagles were an NCAA Division II independent. Her 100th win came on Oct. 26, 2007 as FGCU was making its transition to Division I. (Side note: FGCU’s second volleyball coach, Dave Nichols, narrowly missed the 100-win milestone. He had 99 Ws before Botsford took over the program.)
Off the court, Jordan said Botsford enjoys having fun with his team, especially on the road.
“My best memories are actually from off the court,” Jordan said. “Coach Botsford made the team feel like a family and took us on awesome adventures in each city we traveled to. Anywhere we went, we got to experience local food (covered in ranch if you are coach) and new sights.”
FGCU began this year’s A-SUN slate this past weekend in Jacksonville, where they swept Jacksonville and North Florida — for Botsford, wins 97 and 98. Wins at NJIT on Friday and at new A-SUN member North Alabama on Sunday will get Botsford to the milestone.
“I am so excited for him to have that opportunity,” said Jordan. “I don't think anyone ever doubted he would take this program in a great direction and I'm sure he has many, many wins to come.”
“I feel appreciative for the opportunity that I was presented,” said Botsford. “I feel grateful for all the players that have made FGCU their home. This really is a special place and I am so honored to be a part of it.”
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