Queens College Athletics

Queens native Matt Collier enters his sixth season as the Queens College Head Men's Basketball Coach in 2022-23.

He was hired as the 14th head coach of the Knights' men basketball program in June of 2016.

In his fifth season in charge, Collier led the Knights to ECC postseason for the second consecutive seaosn as they finished the season the regular season with an overall record of 11-11 and 9-9 (4th) in ECC play. The Knights ended the regular season with a .500 record for the first time since the 2016-2017 season when they finished 13-12 overall and 10-8 in conference play. The nine conference wins were the most since the 16-17 season. The fourth-place finish is the highest in ECC play since the 2010-11 season when they finished in third place with a 16-5 conference record. Sopomore Dion Herrington earned All-ECC Third Team All-Conference honors. 

During the Knights 19-20 season, Collier and his Knights returned to post season play for the second time in four season as they 6-10 in conference play. Elijah Bovell would earn All-Conference honors and entered the record book becoming the first player under Collier to score 1000 points. Bovell would be the first Knights player to score 1000 points since Jeremiah Mordi crossed that marker in the 2014-15 season. 

Under the lead of Coach Collier, the Knights posted a 7-11 record in conference play on the season for the 2018-19 campaign. Queens was 5-4 at home and fought for an East Coast Conference playoff berth up until the very last game of the season. The Knights earned several marquee wins in Fitzgerald Gymnasium including a 71-70 victory over Bridgeport and an 80-79 triumph against UDC that saw Tyrese Crosdale tie the school record for most three-pointers made in a game (eight). 

Collier posted a 9-16 overall record in his second season in 2017-2018. The Knights caught fire at the end of the year, winning four of their final six games, including a thrilling 69-66 home victory over ECC foe, LIU Post. Senior Guard Tyrone Hall was All-ECC Third Team candidate, as well as a John Smillie, Jr award recipient.

In his first season at the helm in 2016-17, Collier led the Knights to their first ECC Tournament appearance since the 2013-14 campaign. Queens went 13-13 overall, the most wins for QC since the 2010-11 season. The Knights also posted their best conference record since the 2012-13 season, going 10-8 in the ECC, while the team's eight road wins were its most in six seasons. Tyree White and Diego Maldonado both earned All-ECC honors under Collier's watch. White, who also earned All-Met laurels, became the program's first player since 2010-11 to land all-conference first team accolades.

A coach with extensive experience at the Division I level, Collier previously spent six seasons as a member of the coaching staff at Drexel University in Philadelphia. The Dragons' achievements on the court include a 2010 victory over then #17 Louisville on the road, and a program-record 29 wins during the 2011-12 season.  The team advanced to the quarterfinals of the Postseason NIT, and head coach Bruiser Flint was named CAA Coach of the Year.

Off the court, Collier worked closely with academic services to promote student-athlete welfare and academic success, which was instrumental in maintaining the program's 100% graduation rate over the last 15 years.  He developed and conducted pre-season, in-season, and off-season athletic and skill development for players using statistical analysis, film work, and on-court instruction.  Collier collaborated with student groups and University administration to prevent domestic violence by launching the inaugural #DragonsInAction 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament to promote bystander intervention.

He led recruitment for the Class of 2013, the highest rated class in the CAA (according to HoopScoopOnline).  The relationships Collier developed and maintained with Drexel alumni and boosters resulted in the fundraising for two foreign trips and the renovation of the men's basketball office and team locker room, an estimated total of $3.2 million.

Before joining the Dragons, Collier served a stint as assistant coach at Howard University in Washington, DC from 2005-10. Collier was instrumental in the team's recruiting process, resulting in the highest rated MEAC recruiting class in 2009 (according to HoopScoopOnline).  He oversaw the academic progress of all of student-athletes and served as a lead scout in evaluating opposing teams.  During his time with the Bison, the team picked up the program's first victory over a Pac-12 team, with a 47-45 victory over the Beavers in Nov. 2008.

Collier had a previous stint at Drexel, serving as the Dragons' coordinator of operations from 2002-2005. During that time, Drexel advanced to three National Invitation Tournament appearances.

Before his first stint at Drexel, Collier was the assistant coach at Globe Institute of Technology in New York. He has also served stints as a camp counselor at the prestigious Eastern Invitational Basketball and Five–Star Basketball camps.

Collier earned his degree from the University of Massachusetts in 2001, majoring in Sport Management.   As an undergrad at UMass, Collier was Flint's head manager. Collier attended the Bronx High School of Science. Matt and his wife, Erica, are the parents of daughters Chloe and Cyan.