Associate Head Coach Matt Airy (’04) returned to his alma mater with head coach Eric Bridgeland in June of 2008, and has since been intimately involved in perhaps the most remarkable turnaround in all of NCAA College Basketball during that span. Since the staff’s arrival, the Blues Men’s Basketball program has risen to the top of NCAA Division III, with recent successes virtually unrivaled among all levels of college basketball.
After recording only one winning season over the previous 25 (13-12 in 1998-1999), the Blues have recorded eight consecutive winning seasons, finishing either first or second in the NWC in each of those years. The season prior to Airy and Bridgeland’s arrival on campus, Whitman won only five games, and just one in Northwest Conference play (5-20, 1-15 NWC). In just three years and two full recruiting classes, the program advanced to the NWC Championship game with a 19-8 (12-4) record in 2010-2011, including a victory over previously undefeated and #1 ranked Whitworth.
That third season proved to be a catalyst which led to an unprecedented run in recent years. From 2014-2018 (four seasons), the Blues compiled a 104-14 overall record, with a 60-4 mark in Northwest Conference play. The overall winning percentage (.881) during this span is the best in all of NCAA Division III, and sits at second in all of college basketball behind only 2018 NCAA Division I National Champion Villanova University. During this span, the Blues have strung together a Northwest Conference record 40 game regular season winning streak (ongoing), won two Northwest Conference championships, and became the first Northwest Conference team ever to compile back-to-back undefeated (16-0) conference regular season records.
Whitman had never made an NCAA tournament appearance prior to the 2016 season but have since become widely regarded as a perennial national title contender. With consecutive appearances in the Sweet Sixteen (2016), Final Four (2017), and Elite Eight (2018), the Blues hold the honor of being one of only two Division III programs in the nation to advance to at least the round of sixteen over the past three seasons. Whitman’s 2017 appearance in the National Semifinals was a first for any Northwest Conference team since entering NCAA Division III, and the program’s 31-1 in that season still stands as the all-time best record for any NWC men’s basketball program. In the 2017-2018 season, Whitman became the first NWC team ever to begin the season ranked as the preseason #1 team by d3hoops.com, and held that ranking throughout the regular season and into the Elite Eight. Three of the team’s last four losses, dating back to the 2015-2016 season, have come at the hands of the eventual NCAA National Champion.
As Associate Head Coach, Airy has been intimately involved with every aspect of building the Whitman Men’s Basketball program into a national power, literally since day one. He has served as the program’s lead recruiter in the Northwest, including the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana, as well as overseeing many of the program’s international recruiting efforts. This work has produced multiple All-NWC, All-Region, and All-American performers for the Blues during his time. As the primary development coach for forwards/wings, Airy has also assisted in the development of multiple all-conference performers, as well as All-Americans David Michaels (2012) and Ben Eisenhardt (2013).
Among his strategic responsibilities with the team has been Whitman’s high speed fast break. He has assisted in establishing the Blues high-speed offense as one of the most potent in the nation, peaking in 2017-2018 with an average of just under 98 points per game.
Airy has also served as the director of “Together We Can” Leadership-Based Basketball Camps, Whitman’s unique youth camps and clinics program. In partnering with over 25 local sponsors under Airy’s direction, ‘TWC’ Camps have provided thousands of children in the Walla Walla area with leadership-based camp programming free of registration charge. This unique, community supported model is believed to support the largest free camp program in the nation at a College or University.
Prior to returning to Whitman, Airy served as lead assistant coach at Bellevue Community College (now Bellevue College) in Bellevue, WA. During his four years at BCC, the Bulldogs won three North Region Championships, compiled a 97-30 overall record, and advanced to the NWAACC (Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges) championship game for just the second time in school history. During his time at Bellevue, Airy assisted with all aspects of on the floor coaching and preparation, as well as serving as a lead recruiter, and also as the Program Assistant and Sports Information Director for BCC Athletics.
After prepping at Bellevue High School in Bellevue, WA, Airy participated as a member of the varsity basketball team throughout his time as a student at Whitman, graduating with honors in 2004 with a dual degree in Psychology and Rhetoric & Film Studies. In 2008, he earned his Masters of Education in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership from the University of Washington. He currently resides in Walla Walla with his wife, Rossi.
