Matt Daniel Named Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
5/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
May 6, 2005
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Former University of Colorado women's basketball assistant coach Matt Daniel has been hired to the same position at the University of Missouri, Head Coach Cindy Stein announced today. Daniel will work with the Tiger post players during practice, and will oversee scheduling, game preparation and scouting, while assisting with recruiting.
Daniel worked for one season at CU under legendary former Head Coach Ceal Barry, who retired at the end of this past season to take an administrative position at the school. In Boulder, Daniel worked with the Buffs' guards and was a top recruiter.
"Matt Daniel is the ultimate recruiter and coach. He brings high energy and passion to the game of basketball and is an outstanding recruiter," said Stein, a good friend of Barry's. "His knowledge of what it takes to be successful on and off the court was a definite factor in us bringing him to Mizzou. He is going to be a great addition."
Prior to his stint in Boulder, Daniel was head boy's basketball coach at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Ark., where he led his squad to a 34-1 record and a berth in the stat semifinals. Pulaski was ranked No. 14 in the nation by HoopsUSA.com and No. 22 in the USA Today prep polls. For his efforts, he was named the 6-AAA Coach of the Year.
He also has served as an assistant men's coach at the University of Texas-Arlington from 1999-2003, and a graduate assistant at Arizona State during the 1998-99 season. While at UTA, he coached his younger brother, Josh.
The 29-year-old Daniel is a 1998 graduate of Harding University where he received a degree in general studies. It is also where he wrapped up his collegiate basketball playing career, which began at CU. He helped the Buffs to an NIT bid as a freshman in 1994-95, becoming the first freshman to start in the postseason in CU school history. He was also an Academic All-Big Eight selection in 1995.
A native of Jonesboro, Ark., Daniel was named the 1994 Mr. Basketball, Arkansas Player of the Year, the MVP of the AAAA State Tournament, and led his team to the state title that same year.
Daniel replaces Betsy Yonkman, who resigned last month to pursue head coaching opportunities.
