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| TCNJ athletics file photo |
By Patrick Coleman and Dave McHugh,
D3sports.com
Matthew Goldsmith, the men's basketball coach at TCNJ and a former player under Hall of Famer Dave Hixon at Amherst, will be announced as the new head men's basketball coach at Middlebury, Hoopsville and D3sports.com has learned.
Sources indicate that Goldsmith informed his TCNJ team this afternoon.
He replaces Jeff Brown, who announced his retirement in late February. Brown spent 28 seasons as head coach of the Panthers and 43 seasons with the program altogether and is the winningest coach in program history at 457-248.
"We are thrilled to welcome Matt as our new head men's basketball coach," Middlebury athletic director Erin Quinn said in a news release confirming the hire. "Matt brings a wealth of experience from his time as a player and assistant coach in the NESCAC and as a successful Division III head coach. We were impressed by his ability to develop not only outstanding basketball players but student-athletes beyond the basketball court. We look forward to welcoming Matt and his family to Middlebury to continue the tradition of excellence that coach Jeff Brown developed in our program."
In 10 years as head coach of TCNJ, Goldsmith's Lions have advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times. He posted a 153-98 record (.610) in his time at TCNJ. Goldsmith is also the head coach of The Nerd Team, which has participated in The Basketball Tournament.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead such a storied basketball program filled with elite student-athletes and incredible alumni," Goldsmith said. "I will work tirelessly to build on the tradition that Coach Brown built over the past 28 seasons. We will play in a way that makes the Middlebury campus, the athletics department, and all of our supporters proud. My family and I are extremely excited to dive into the Middlebury community and get up to Vermont."
The 2008 Amherst graduate takes over a program which has won 20 or more games nine times in the past 16 seasons. Middlebury was 12-12 this past season and missed the NESCAC tournament. At Amherst, Goldsmith was an assistant coach for three seasons and won a national title both as an assistant coach (2013) and as a player (2007). He also holds a master's degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts.