Northern Colorado women’s basketball has a new coach, the university announced Saturday evening.
Kristen Mattio will take over the Bears program after spending the last six years as the head coach of West Texas A&M, where she compiled a 154-35 record. It was the fastest any coach in program history had reached 150 wins. Prior to that, she spent two years as an assistant under now-Stephen F. Austin head coach Mark Kellogg.
“We are excited to welcome Kristen to the Northern Colorado family. We set out to find a leader who would build champions on and off the court and there is no doubt we hit that mark,” UNC Athletic Director Darren Dunn said in a statement. “Coach Mattio is a respected recruiter and developer of talent who has achieved immense success on a national level. Most importantly, she is a tremendous person who cares for her student-athletes. Her familiarity with Colorado and the Big Sky Conference made her the perfect choice as our new head coach of the University of Northern Colorado women’s basketball program.”
Mattio led the program to four regular season Lone Star Conference titles including three straight from 2018 to 2020. She also guided the program to conference tournament titles in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, the Lady Buffs program won the South Central Regional Championship in 2017 and earned spots in the Division II NCAA Tournament in five of the last six years.
WT would have qualified for the DII tournament had the bracket not been reduced due to COVID-19.
During her time on staff, she helped lead the program to three Elite Eight appearances and a national runner-up finish in 2014.
Mattio’s head coaching record boasts wins over four Division I teams, including Big Sky opponents Northern Arizona and Weber State.
“I am truly excited and honored to join the Northern Colorado family and be part of a program with such a strong tradition,” Mattio said in the announcement. “I am thrilled to join a community that embraces its university and athletic programs with such enthusiasm. I want to thank President Andy Feinstein, Director of Athletics Darren Dunn and the entire search committee for the opportunity to lead the Northern Colorado women’s basketball program. It is humbling and exciting to join an athletic department that is as welcoming, passionate and committed to success as UNC is, and I can’t wait to start building this program to be among the best in the Big Sky Conference.”
UNC’s new coach has earned two Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year distinctions and guided four All-Americans.
Prior to her time at WT, Mattio worked at Northwest Missouri State and Fort Lewis College in Durango.
Fort Lewis made five straight NCAA Tournament appearances and won its first NCAA postseason contest while she was on staff. She also recruited two All-Americans and RMAC Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011, Dana Schriebvogel.
Mattio’s coaching history also includes stops at Austin Peay and Montana State, a fellow Big Sky member.
As a player, Mattio attended Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. She was a part of two NAIA Tournament Appearances, three conference titles and an NAIA Division II Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Mattio’s hiring comes two and a half weeks after former head coach Jenny Huth’s sudden resignation. Huth spent three seasons with the Bears, leading the program to two Big Sky Conference semifinals and the WNIT. She also helped develop 2021 Big Sky MVP Alisha Davis.
The Greeley Tribune previously reached out to UNC regarding additional details regarding her resignation and the national search but little information was provided.
UNC plans to formally introduce Mattio at a news conference next week. More details are set to be released in the coming days.
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