Matt Bollant Named UW-Green Bay Women's Basketball Head Coach

May 7, 2007

Green Bay, Wis. - University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Director of Athletics Ken Bothof announced today the hiring of Matt Bollant as the head coach for the Phoenix women's basketball program. Bollant becomes the third head coach in the team's storied 34-year history.

"Matt is a perfect fit for UW-Green Bay," said Bothof. "He has proven recruiting success in the Midwest from his time as a Division I assistant coach, and his record as a head coach speaks for itself. We are excited to have Matt and his family as part of our program."

"We have the right person to lead the UW-Green Bay women's basketball program," said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Bruce Shepard. "Coach Bollant was the consensus choice of our players as well as campus and community members who helped in the coaching search. He has demonstrated enthusiasm and passion for our women's basketball program and University. I am confident that the program, which has such an outstanding tradition on the court and in the classroom, will have an even brighter future under Coach Bollant."

"I am thrilled for the opportunity to be the head coach here at UW-Green Bay," said Bollant. "I hope to continue the high level of excellence the team has had here, and I can't wait to get started building for the future."

Bollant begins his NCAA head coaching career in Green Bay following five seasons at Bryan (Tenn.) College. In his five seasons as the program's mentor, Bollant posted a 134-38 record (.779 winning percentage) with the Lady Lions at the NAIA level.

Under Bollant's watch, Bryan made four straight NAIA national tournament appearances over the last four seasons. The team advanced as far as the Sweet 16 in 2005-06 with a 26-8 record. During his first campaign with Bryan in 2002-03, Bollant guided the squad to a team-record 29 wins while appearing in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national tournament.

Prior to his appointment at Bryan, Bollant served as an assistant coach for Kathi Bennett at Indiana University for two seasons and Evansville University for three years. Bollant and Indiana made back-to-back postseason appearances with the team's trip to the NCAA tournament in 2002 and the WNIT in 2001. The 2002 squad won the Big Ten tournament, the first and only time in Indiana history.

While at Evansville, the Purple Aces went from six wins overall and one Missouri Valley Conference victory in 1997-98 to MVC tournament champions the following season and an NCAA tournament berth with Bollant's assistance. Evansville then went on to go 23-7 in 1999-2000 and made a trip to the WNIT.

Bollant got his coaching start at Tigerton (Wis.) High School, where he served as the head coach and led the Tigers to an impressive 63-10 record over three years, including a 22-1 mark during the 1996-97 campaign. His teams won Central Wisconsin Conference-Small School titles each of those three seasons.

A 1994 graduate of Winona State (Minn.) University with a degree in business education, Bollant also has a master's degree in education from American Intercontinental University. He and his wife, Kari, have two daughters: Abi (8), and Regan (6).

Story provided by UW-Green Bay Sports Information Office.