Meet the New Men’s Basketball Coach: Matthew McLaughlin
Bridgewater State’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Joe Farroba retired after thirty years, being the winningest coach in Bears history. After his departure, the Bears decided to promote assistant coach Matthew McLaughlin (he/him) to the head coaching position for the 2022-23 season.
McLaughlin’s involvement in Bridgewater State’s basketball programs started fifteen years ago. As a student at Bridgewater State, McLaughlin was a member of the Men’s Basketball team from 2007-2010. McLaughlin scored 518 points, 351 assists, 212 rebounds and 145 steals in the 82 games of his BSU career. In his senior year, McLaughlin was selected to the All-MASCAC Second Team, was the MASCAC Tournament MVP and played in the New England Basketball Coaches Association (NEBCA) All-Star Game. McLaughlin and the Bears were back to back to back MASCAC Champions from 2008-2011.
Before his time at BSU, McLaughlin played Men’s Basketball and Soccer at Tabor Academy (Marion, MA) and attended Clark University after graduating high school, where he played basketball. In the 2006-07 season he scored 95 points, 66 assists, 41 rebounds, and 21 steals. He then transferred to Bridgewater State his sophomore year.
McLaughin graduated BSU with a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science and a Masters of Science in strength and conditioning. After he graduated with his Bachelors, he was a volunteer assistant coach at Wheaton College under Coach Brian Wamsley.
He was a “great role model for me and really helped me learn about the game and just how it all works and the process.” McLaughlin said.
He then became an assistant coach for the BSU Women’s Basketball team under coach Bridgett Casey for seven seasons before joining the Men’s Basketball team as an assistant coach last season. He also is currently a physical education/health teacher and is a Strength and Conditioning coach at Franklin High School.
McLaughlin won his first two games as head coach, where the Bears hosted the UMass Boston Beacons and the Dean College Bulldogs.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the support of my family – my mom, Carol, my dad, Michael. My three sisters Jamie, Nicole and Brianna [who are both BSU alumnae] , and my biggest support system my wife, Carrie, my son Raylan, and my dog Riggs,” McLaughlin said.
