Matt Heath - Baseball Coach

Matt Heath

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
mheath8@utm.edu
Phone:
731-881-3691

Matt Heath wrapped up his third season on the University of Tennessee at Martin coaching staff in 2021. He served as the program's associate head coach and pitching coach.

In 2021, Heath's pitching staff combined for a 5.24 ERA - the best mark in the program's NCAA Division I Era (since 1993). He had a direct impact on All-OVC honorees Winston Cannon (only the second starting pitcher in school history to garner first team status) and David Hussey (just the second relief pitcher to nab second team accolades). Cannon also was named as one of 13 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Players of the Week on May 24 while Hussey was one of 65 finalists for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award. Additionally, the Skyhawks combined for three OVC Pitchers of the Week for the second time in program history as Sam Folks (April 5, May 24) and Nick Wohlbold (April 12) captured those honors.

In addition to its record-setting ERA, the 2021 pitching staff ranked third all-time in strikeouts (413) and fourth in saves (eight).

UT Martin defeated two nationally ranked opponents in 2021, topping No. 22 Alabama by a 9-4 score on Feb. 24 before taking down No. 11 Ole Miss by a 9-7 margin on May 18. The Skyhawks also nearly defeated No. 1 Vanderbilt - the eventual NCAA runner-up - on April 6 before falling 5-4.

Despite the fact that the 2020 schedule was cut short, Heath was part of Skyhawk history. One of Heath's pupils - junior closer Nick Wohlbold - became the first UT Martin player to ever be named NCBWA Preseason All-American and also earned a spot on the NCBWA's Stopper of the Year preseason watch list.

The Skyhawks also landed a pair of Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-Americans (Christian Hall and Wil LaFollette) for the first time in school history in 2020. UT Martin was one of only 20 NCAA Division I schools to boast multiple selections on the prestigious list.

In 2019, Heath helped transform the Skyhawk pitching staff into one of the best in the school's Division I Era. UT Martin led the Ohio Valley Conference with five shutouts (most in the Division I Era) and pitched to the program's lowest single-season ERA since 2006. The Skyhawks also established new school records in innings pitched (480.1), pitching strikeouts (431) and saves (17) under Heath's tutelage in 2019.

Heath worked closely with sophomore closer Nick Wohlbold in 2019, as he led the OVC and ranked 11th nationally with 13 saves. That shattered UT Martin's career record for saves as Wohlbold became just the third Skyhawk hurler to ever earn an All-OVC nod (first since 2008).

Overall, UT Martin tied for its most victories (25) and OVC wins (12) in the Division I Era in Heath's first year as an assistant. The Skyhawks not only advanced to the OVC Championship tournament for just the fourth time in school history, but also won their opening round game - marking the second postseason win since joining the Division I ranks.

Heath was most recently the head coach at College of Charleston, where he spearheaded the program from 2016-17. He has also spent time in professional baseball scouting and in the Southeastern Conference, working with both pitchers and hitters over the years.

In his career, Heath has coached a National Freshman Pitcher of the Year, multiple All-Americans and Freshman All-Americans, a Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year, a Colonial Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year and numerous all-conference pitchers.

Skyhawk head coach Ryan Jenkins is familiar with Heath’s successful coaching pedigree, as Jenkins played under Heath at Auburn before coaching alongside Heath at College of Charleston.

Heath served as an assistant at College of Charleston a total of seven years (two as hitting coach and five as pitching coach), most previously under head coach Monte Lee from 2011-15. In his seven seasons, he helped guide the Cougars to a 275-143 record and a 132-56 mark in conference play (.702 winning percentage). He was a part of four conference championships, three NCAA Regional appearances and one NCAA Super Regional appearances (2006, 2014). Numerous school records are still in place including ERA and opponent batting average.

In 2009, Heath served as hitting coach at Auburn, helping the Tigers break into the national rankings in numerous categories and setting several school records. He oversaw an offense that belted a program-record 103 home runs and 218 extra-base hits, as Auburn’s .516 slugging percentage was the third-highest mark in school history.

Heath has also scouted for the Houston Astros, covering the North Florida area before returning to College of Charleston to be a member of Lee’s staff in 2011.

Heath broke into the coaching ranks as an assistant coach at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, Fla., spending two seasons there prior to his first stint at College of Charleston.

A Fernandina Beach, Fla. native, Heath was a highly touted prep star as he was named the North Florida Player of the Year out of Fernandina Beach High School. He played at the University of Florida under Andy Lopez for two years before transferring to play for Skip Bertman at Louisiana State University.

Heath graduated from LSU in 2002 and later played in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization for two seasons. He and his wife have two children.