Matt Futch enters his first season as the Head Coach of Women's Basketball at Ohio Christian University. Futch comes to OCU after serving for two years on the staff of the men's basketball program at the University of Akron under head coach Keith Dambrot.
While on the staff at Akron, he helped lead the Zips to two MAC Championships, a MAC Conference Tournament Title, and an NCAA Tournament Appearance in 2013.
Futch will take over an established OCU program that has reached the NCCAA National Tournament each of the last four seasons, including a National Runner-Up finish in 2010. OCU believes that Futch will continue the winning tradition of women's basketball at OCU.
Coach Futch is a product of Ohio and brings a numerous connections with coaches and players from across the state. A standout player at Akron's Butchel High School, he averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks as a senior, leading his team to a 17-6 record. He earned all-state honors as a junior and senior while earning a nomination for the McDonald's All-America team as a senior.
In three seasons for the Zips from 2003-06, Futch was a force in the paint, appearing in 86 career games. Prior to working on the staff for the Zips, Futch had the opportunity of playing professional basketball internationally. He played professionally in 2006 and 2007 with stints in both Portugal and Mexico. A 2010 graduate of The University of Akron, Futch earned his BA in sports management as well as a masters degree in sports administration in 2012.
Matt has been actively involved and committed to his local community as well as the Akron church community. As co-founder of the Returning the Favor Foundation, he been able help people within the community find jobs, education opportunities, health & fitness, and to create stronger families. He is an active member of Team J.A.M which is an organization that ministers the biblical message of Christ to athletes.
Futch is looking forward to getting started at OCU. "I'm extremely happy to be a part of a University that holds the same morals and values that I do as a Christian," said Futch. "We also share a similar vision as far as excellence and having the desire to help young people succeed. I thank God for this great opportunity and I am eager to get started."
Coach Futch has a clear vision of what he hopes to accomplish as head coach. "My goal is that our team will embrace the true meaning of what it means to 'be a Trailblazer' and that extraordinary success will soon become ordinary."
