Elon looked across North Carolina and within the Southern Conference to pick Davidson associate coach Matt Matheny as the Phoenix’s next coach. Matheny replaces Ernie Nestor.
Matheny will be taking on his first head coaching job after working as an assistant to Davidson coach Bob McKillop for 16 seasons. He helped the Wildcats become the SoCon’s premier program during the past decade, according to a university press release.
During Matheny’s time on the bench, Davidson produced 10 campaigns of 20 or more victories, three undefeated Southern Conference regular seasons, 26 All-SoCon players and six SoCon All-Freshman selections.
Matheny, who was born in Shelby, N.C., and grew up in Statesville, N.C., was a three-sport standout at North Iredell High School. During his college days, he lettered four years as a wide receiver for Davidson’s football team and two years as a point guard for the Wildcats’ men’s basketball squad before graduating in 1992 with a bachelor of arts degree in history.
