Gerald Mattinson

Gerald Mattinson
Mattinson in 2017.
Biographical details
Born (1958-11-06) November 6, 1958 (age 66)
Rock Springs, Wyoming
Playing career
1977–1978Casper
1978–1981Weber State
Position(s)Forward
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1981–1982Weber State (men's assistant)
1982–1987Rock Springs HS
1987–1990Western Wyoming CC (men's assistant)
1991–1998Western Wyoming CC (men's)
1998–1999Western Wyoming CC (women's assistant)
2003–2019Wyoming (assistant)
2019–2022Wyoming
Head coaching record
Overall48–35 (.578)
TournamentsNCAA: 0–1
WNIT: 2–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
MW Tournament (2021)

Gerald Alan Mattinson (born November 6, 1958)[1][2] is an American retired basketball coach. He was a longtime women's basketball coach at the University of Wyoming, first as an assistant coach from 2003 to 2019 and head coach from 2019 to 2022.

Early life and college career

A football and basketball player in high school, Mattinson graduated from Rock Springs High School in 1977.[3] He then attended and played basketball for Casper College, earning All-American honors in his only season.[4] In 1978, Mattinson transferred to Weber State College (now University) to play for Neil McCarthy. As a senior in 1980–81, Mattinson averaged 8.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.[5] Mattinson earned a bachelor of science degree in business education from Weber State in 1981.

Coaching career

Early coaching career (1981–1999)

Upon graduation, Mattinson served as a graduate assistant for Weber State for one season.[6] He then returned to Rock Springs High in 1982 to become a business education teacher and boys' basketball head coach; he coached the boys' basketball team through 1987.[3] From 1987 to 1999, Mattinson coached at Western Wyoming Community College in many different capacities, starting as men's assistant coach from 1987 to 1990, men's head coach and assistant athletic director from 1991 to 1998, and women's basketball assistant coach from 1998 to 1999.[3]

In 1999, Mattinson paused his basketball coaching career to become principal at East Junior High School in Rock Springs.[7]

Wyoming assistant and head coach (2003–2022)

In 2003, Mattinson became an assistant coach under new head coach Joe Legerski at the University of Wyoming.[6] Mattinson stayed on the staff for the entire 16-year tenure of Legerski, during which Wyoming went 314–186 with eight Women's National Invitation Tournament appearances, including the 2007 title, and an appearance in the 2008 NCAA tournament.[8][6]

Following Legerski's retirement, Mattinson was promoted to head coach on May 7, 2019, with a three-year contract.[9][10] Mattinson's debut season as head coach in 2019–20 was 17–12 overall including 12–6 in Mountain West Conference games for a third place tie in conference standings.[11] The following season in 2020–21, Wyoming finished 14–10 (8–8 Mountain West).[12] Entering the Mountain West championship tournament as the no. 7 seed, Wyoming won the tournament with a 59–56 win over no. 4 Fresno State on March 10, 2021.[13] Wyoming appeared in the 2021 NCAA tournament on March 22, the program's first appearance in the tournament since 2008.[14]

In 2021–22, Wyoming finished tied for third in Mountain West standings at 11–6 (15–12 overall).[15] Wyoming advanced to the third round of the 2022 Women's National Invitation Tournament, losing 82–81 to UCLA in triple overtime at home on March 24, 2022.[16]

On March 25, Mattinson announced his retirement from coaching.[17] Mattinson completed his tenure with a 48–35 overall record. Heather Ezell, a longtime Wyoming assistant under both Legerski and Mattinson, was promoted to head coach the same day.[17]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Wyoming Cowgirls (Mountain West Conference) (2019–2022)
2019–20 Wyoming 17–12 12–6 T–3rd
2020–21 Wyoming 14–10 8–8 7th NCAA round of 64
2021–22 Wyoming 17–13 11–6 T–3rd WNIT Third Round
Wyoming: 48–35 (.578) 31–20 (.608)
Total: 48–35 (.578)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ Poslosky, Tyler (November 3, 2019). "Gerald Mattinson takes over for Cowgirls". wyosports.net. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  2. ^ O'Sullivan, Sean (November 6, 2019). "Mattinson Celebrates Birthday & Cowgirls Head Coaching Debut With Season-Opening Victory". si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Arambel, Dave (September 4, 2019). "Gerald Mattinson's Decorated Basketball Career Leads to RSHS Hall of Fame Induction". sweetwaternow.com. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  4. ^ Landen, William R. "History of T-Bird Basketball". tbirds.cc. Casper College. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  5. ^ "Gerald Mattinson". Sports Reference. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Gerald Mattinson - Women's Basketball Coach". gowyo.com. University of Wyoming. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  7. ^ Schmoldt, Eric (March 20, 2008). "One crazy trip". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "Joe Legerski". NCAA. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  9. ^ "Gerald Mattinson Named Next Cowgirl Basketball Head Coach". gowyo.com. University of Wyoming. May 7, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  10. ^ Potter, Davis (June 5, 2021). "Gerald Mattinson to coach Wyoming women's basketball for at least one more season". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  11. ^ "Mountain West Basketball Standings - 2019-20". ESPN. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  12. ^ "Mountain West Basketball Standings - 2020-21". ESPN. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  13. ^ "CHAMPS - Cowgirls Claim Mountain West tournament Title". University of Wyoming. March 11, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  14. ^ "No. 14 Cowgirls Fall to Third-Seed UCLA in First Round of NCAA Tournament, 69-48". University of Wyoming. March 22, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  15. ^ "Mountain West Basketball Standings - 2021-22". ESPN. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  16. ^ "Cowgirls Go Blow-For-Blow With UCLA in Triple OT Loss". University of Wyoming. March 24, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  17. ^ a b Thorburn, Ryan (March 25, 2022). "Gerald Mattinson retires, Heather Ezell promoted to Wyoming Cowgirls head coach". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2022.