Matt Rodriguez is an alum of SHU’s Exercise Science and Nutrition graduate program. He returned to Sacred Heart University in 2022 as Associate Head Strength & Conditioning Coach where he directly oversees all aspects of sports performance for both men’s basketball and men’s lacrosse, and he assists with the football program. Since returning to SHU, Rodriguez has helped guide multiple programs to record-setting championship seasons:
- Women’s basketball -- 2023 & 2024 NEC Champions (first ever NCAA tournament win)
- Men’s lacrosse -- 2024 MAAC Champions (first ever NCAA tournament appearance and program record 13 wins)
- Baseball -- 2024 NEC Regular Season Champions (first ever regular season title and program record 35 wins)
Rodriguez was previously the Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning / Head of Baseball Sports Performance at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC. His comprehensive programming helped propel the CU baseball team to reach three Big South Conference Championships that led to three straight NCAA Regional appearances. While at CU, Rodriguez trained 11 MLB draft picks, including three first-rounders. Additionally, Rodriguez partnered with BeaverFit North America to design and customize a 7’x18’ mobile weight trailer to further expand training capabilities for the CU baseball student-athletes. While at Campbell he also coached track and field throwers and assisted with the football program.
In 2018, Rodriguez served as a graduate assistant strength & conditioning coach while earning his Master’s degree at SHU. Responsibilities included baseball, women’s rugby, track and field throwers, bowling, equestrian, and cheerleading as well as assisting with football and men’s basketball.
Prior to Sacred Heart, Rodriguez served as a strength & conditioning intern at the University of Pennsylvania. While there, he coached student-athletes from UPenn’s 31 varsity sports teams, including the Ivy League Championship football team. He graduated from Montclair State University (Montclair, NJ) with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. As an undergrad, he competed as an infielder on the Red Hawks baseball team.
Rodriguez holds multiple certifications, including Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC). Additionally, he is a Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) Movement Specialist and is OnBaseU Level 1 Pitching Certified. He holds a Level 1 Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR) certification, is Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified, and holds CPR/AED and First Aid certifications from the American Red Cross.
Originally from Cinnaminson, NJ, Rodriguez and his wife, Cj – another SHU alum and member of the SHU Athletics staff – live not far from campus.
