American University Women’s Basketball matt
CORKERY
Head Coach • 3rd Season • West Texas A&M, ‘93 • 41-22 Matt Corkery begins his third season as the head women’s basketball coach at American University. Corkery has a 41-22 career record at AU, including a 22-6 mark in Patriot League play. The 2009-10 campaign was a historic season for Corkery’s Eagles. American finished Patriot League play with a 13-1 Patriot League record, its best ever conference record, and earned a share of the Patriot League regular season championship. Additionally, AU’s 2210 overall record gave the Eagles only their fourth ever 20win season. The 22 wins were the second most ever in school history, and AU was rewarded with its program-record third straight postseason berth. Additionally, junior forward Michelle Kirk was named the program’s first ever conference Player of the Year, as well as a ECAC Division I All-Star and Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Scholar-Athlete. Classmate Liz Leer joined her on the All-PL First Team, marking the first time in program history the Eagles have had two first team selections as a member of the Patriot League. Finally, Corkery became the second AU women’s basketball coach to be named Patriot League Coach of the Year. Melissa McFerrin received the honor following the 2008 campaign. In 2008-09, Corkery led American to a 19-12 record, which included the program’s second consecutive postseason appearance. The Eagles’ 10-5 non-conference record was the best in school history, and their 19 total victories were the most since the 1997-98 campaign. The Eagles defeated two NCAA Tournament teams, Drexel and Lehigh, during the season. Additionally, Corkery coached three All-Patriot League selections in 2008-09, including First Team performer Michelle Kirk and All-Rookie Team honorees Ebony Edwards and Lisa Strack. Corkery oversaw the largest women’s basketball crowd in school history when 1,177 fans attended the home game against Lehigh on February 7, 2009.
as AU’s associate head coach during the 2007-08 campaign. In total, Corkery has been on the AU staff for five seasons. In 2007, he was elevated from assistant coach and recruiting coordinator to associate head coach. With the promotion, Corkery assumed additional responsibilities both on and off the court. Corkery joined the Eagles in 2004 after spending three seasons as the associate head coach at Division II Emporia State (Kan.). During his tenure with the Hornets, Corkery helped guide the squad to a 63-25 record and No. 2 rankings nationally in both the 2001-02 and 2003-04 seasons. Corkery served as an assistant coach at Stephen F. Austin University from 1999-2001. During his tenure, the Ladyjacks won consecutive Southland Conference titles and made successive appearances in the NCAA Tournament. In 2000, the Ladyjacks advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division I Tournament as a 12-seed. Corkery’s squad recorded a 54-11 record during his tenure at Stephen F. Austin. From 1996 to 1999, as head coach at Howard College (Texas), he led the Lady Hawks to three top 10 rankings in the National Junior College Athletic Association polls and an overall record of 90-12. In 1998, Corkery was named the NJCAA Region V Coach of the Year, as his squad compiled a 34-3 record and finished in third-place in the NJCAA National Tournament. Corkery earned a Bachelor’s degree in education in 1993 and a Master’s of sports and exercise sciences in 1996 from West Texas A&M University. While with the Lady Buffs, Corkery worked his way up from student assistant coach to graduate assistant and eventually earned a full-time assistant coaching position. As an assistant, Corkery mentored a Buffs squad that went 28-3, won the Lone Star Conference title and was ranked as high as No. 4 in the NCAA Division II national rankings in the 1995-96 campaign. The team’s record during Corkery’s tenure as an assistant at West Texas A&M was 120-32. A native of Whitharral, Texas, Corkery currently resides in Washington, D.C.
Corkery’s Coaching Resume
“We are pleased with the progress that Matt and his staff have made with our women’s basketball program over the last two years both on and off the court,” commented Director of Athletics and Recreation Keith Gill. “He is a great teacher of the game and his passion for this team will translate into continued success for this program. We’re excited for what this season and the future will bring.” Corkery was named to his current position on May 19, 2008 after serving
23
Years
Position
School
2008-Pres.
Head Coach
American
41-22
2007-08
Associate Head Coach
American
18-14
2004-07
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator American
32-56
2001-04
Associate Head Coach
Emporia State
63-25
1999-01
Assistant Coach
Stephen F. Austin
54-11
1996-99
Head Coach
Howard (Texas)
90-12
West Texas A&M
120-32
1990-94, 96 Assistant Coach Total Record for Corkery-Coached Teams
2010 Patriot League Co-Regular Season Champions
Record
418-172