When FAU hired head football coach Howard Schnellenberger in 1999, they knew he would be good for recruiting players. What FAU also found out is that Schnellenberger is good at recruiting coaches – for sports other then football.
Matt Doherty, who was named as the new Men’s basketball coach on Monday, April 18, said he received personal phone calls from Schnellenberger regarding FAU, during the press conference. “His commitment to this place meant a lot to me,” said Doherty.
Doherty’s last coaching stint was as the head coach at the University of North Carolina back in 2002. Over the past two seasons, he has served as an analyst for CSTV and ESPN, while serving as a scout for the New York Knicks. Doherty’s resume also includes being named Coach-of-the-Year by the Associated Press in his first year at the UNC, holding a head coaching record of 75-58, and leading Notre Dame to their best season in a decade during the 1999-2000 season. He also played at UNC under Coach Dean Smith and was teammates with James Worthy and Michael Jordan.
“I’m excited to be here. It felt right when I walked through the weight room and saw the energy,” Doherty said at the press conference. Doherty said his goals for the team are to “recruit talented young men of character, educate and win.” The UNC Tarheels won the 2005 NCAA National Championship – guided by players that Doherty recruited including Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants and Sean May.
Doherty said that he had two parameters when deciding if FAU was a perfect fit for him. He said he wanted “a place where the infrastructure was in place for success and a community I felt good about raising my family.” Doherty brings his son, his daughter, and his wife with him.
Doherty said that he is going to sit down with former head coach Sidney Green’s coaching staff and see if they fit into his plans. However, he has already brought one of his former players and a former NBA player, Rex Walters, onto his coaching staff as his assistant.
During the press conference, Doherty stressed the need for new facilities for the program. Doherty is not the only coach wanting new facilities however. The baseball team is currently raising money for a new stadium, Student Government has budgeted for a Wellness Center, the track team needs an on campus track and the tennis team has courts that are sub-par at best.
In addition, the dome stadium is still being discussed as a remedy for the football team, volleyball team and basketball teams demands for new playing fields, a project that is being quoted at anywhere between $60 and $150 million. But, Doherty still believes that he can raise the money needed to build a locker room that the players can be proud of.
“My first order of business is these guys,” said Doherty, and he pointed to Jimmy Bishop and the other players that were huddled in the corner of the room.
FAU will play this season as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference before switching to the Sun Belt Conference in 2006. Last year, the team posted a mark of 10-17 overall, while going 10-10 in conference play. It’s not only the FAU community that is excited about the acquisition of Doherty. “Matt Doherty is a sensational hire for Florida Atlantic,” said ESPN’s Dick Vitale. “He brings a passion and work ethic that is very special. His experience as an assistant at Kansas and head coach at Notre Dame and North Carolina will be invaluable for his journey forward with the Owls. I salute Mr. Brogan and Mr. Angelos for making a great hire.”
