Matt Roberts was named Director of Athletics at College of Charleston on Oct. 27, 2016.
Upon his hiring, Roberts said: "We will embrace and foster greatness in all that we do. The second-most important thing that we do is – we will constantly focus on our student-athletes. Third, we will get out into the community and we will engage the Charleston community and the communities abroad."
Anchored by Roberts, CofC Athletics has risen to new heights since that day with department-wide athletic achievement, amplified academic excellence, trailblazing facility investments, record-breaking revenue streams and a renewed, constant focus on fostering total student-athlete success.
Roberts serves on College of Charleston’s Presidential Leadership Team and as Chair of Colonial Athletic Association Athletic Directors while actively leading 350 student-athletes and more than 75 coaches and staff by example.
In 2018, he installed CofC Athletics’ first formalized Strategic Plan. Since then, The College has seen revenue records in 2018 and 2019, record annual giving records in 2018, 2019 and 2021 and sponsorships records in each of the last three years despite the challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the Cougars have made it a tradition to lead the CAA in men’s basketball attendance, having done so in each of the last three seasons.
Under his guidance the Cougars have seen outstanding athletic success, including a Sailing national championship and NCAA Tournament berths in men’s hoops, men’s golf, women’s golf and volleyball, among other achievements. In that span, Roberts has spearheaded successful leadership transitions in men’s basketball, women’s hoops, men’s golf, baseball, sailing and equestrian.
In addition to on-field accomplishments, Roberts’ emphasis on academic resources and a constant focus on student-athlete development has seen every single CofC Athletic program exceed NCAA APR standards and new department APR records set in each of the past three years. Cougar student-athletes have boasted record average-GPAs of 3.22 and 3.25 over the past two semesters.
Despite all the shattered records in a variety of areas, Roberts’ has College of Charleston on a path to achieve even greater success in the future. He’s created several initiatives to foster total student-athlete growth, including the Charleston Edge, an NIL platform in partnership with INFLCR. Additionally, he molded both Paws to Claws Life Skills Training for freshmen student-athletes and Pathways to Success Life Skills Training for the entire student-athlete body. CofC Athletics’ has also shaped a new, comprehensive Sports Nutrition program and partnered with MUSC Health for holistic care of Cougar athletes.
Several capital projects have been finished or launched during Roberts’ tenure, including improved video boards, ribbon boards, weight rooms, locker rooms, loge boxes and a new court at TD Arena. Moreover, Roberts has already begun carrying out a multi-million-dollar Master Plan for Patriots Point Facilities to aid the baseball, soccer, softball and tennis programs for decades to come.
Prior to his arrival in Charleston, Roberts was the Deputy Athletic Director at Southern Methodist University from 2012-16. At SMU, Roberts helped administer the day-to-day operations of the entire athletics department and served as the administrative liaison for the football and men's basketball programs. He also assisted in the development of a departmental strategic plan, community engagement and customer service initiatives, and in the coordination of SMU post-season travel.
Prior to SMU, Roberts served as the Associate Athletics Director for Development at the University of Oklahoma, where he was responsible for the overall administration and leadership of the athletics development office, including oversight of the Sooner Club, major gift and endowment programs. At OU, he also led a variety of marketing efforts as well as served as the sports administrator for the men's and women's tennis programs.
A 1997 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Roberts earned his bachelor's degree in exercise and sports sciences. He later attended Ohio University and completed his master's degree in sports administration in 1999.
A former student-athlete, Roberts was a walk-on pitcher for UNC and finished his collegiate career as an undergraduate assistant coach, working with the Tar Heels' pitching staff. Afterwards, he was a member of UNC's athletics department, working in the ticket office and later coordinating the marketing for men's and women's soccer, women's basketball and men's and women's lacrosse.
Originally from Wake Forest, N.C., Roberts is married to Amanda Horvath Roberts, and they have two sons, Carter and Tucker
