Q&A: Brady Matthews, Newman University head coach and NAITA champion

Coaches are vital in motivating and developing players to reach their full potential. Brady Matthews, who was named head coach of the Newman University men’s and women’s tennis teams in August 2024, brings his experience and a human approach to coaching at the Wichita school, making him a boon to the collegiate tennis landscape.

Originally from Anadarko, Oklahoma, Matthews played for Anadarko High School before joining the Seminole State College team. After two years at the school, he transferred to Southwestern Christian University and graduated in 2018. His coaching journey started the same year, as Matthews returned to Seminole State College to lead their men’s and women’s tennis teams.

A member of the Comanche Nation, Matthews is also active in the North American Indian Tennis Association (NAITA). He won his division at the 2024 NAITA National Championships, which took place last May in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Here, Matthews reflects on his time as a coach and why coaching is so important. He also shares some of his favorite moments leading teams and discusses the importance of NAITA in creating a strong tennis community for Native Americans.

How long have you been coaching tennis?

I’ve been coaching college tennis for seven years now—one in junior college at Seminole State College, one for Division I University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and four years at Division II Southeastern Oklahoma State University while I was doing my master’s degree. Then, this previous year at junior college Cowley College and now currently at Newman University.

Can you please share why you enjoy coaching and why you feel it may be vital to the development of young players?

I enjoy coaching because of the personal connections I get to have with the players and the team, and the bonding of different cultures—bringing together both international and American players. What makes coaching tennis (great), especially in the college level, is you’re taking players who are normally competing as individuals and changing them with that mentality of a team aspect.

What I also enjoy as a college coach is the careers I see the players go into, whether it’s tennis professionally or it’s something they became interested in during their time in college. Having that bond that goes beyond their time on the team and at the university.

What is one of your favorite memories from your time coaching?

I have a few moments that fall into the top. In no particular order, I would say back in spring 2024 going back-to-back conference titles on the women’s team. And the other would be a combination of May last year—being a part of the women’s team’s first-ever DI NJCAA National Championship in not just the program’s history, but in the school’s history. That was on the same day as my 30th birthday. And on the men’s side, the week after getting NJCAA national runner-up.