Bio

Matt Oliver returns for his 5th season as Head Coach of the Spartanburg Methodist College wrestling program. In Oliver’s first three years at the helm of SMC he has coached thirteen NJCAA National Qualifiers and four NJCAA All-Americans including National Finalist in 2016, 165lber Daquon Wilson and a 2x All-American Tramon Jenkins (133 & 125). This past season Oliver has lead the Pioneers to a 21st team finish at the National Tournament with two individual All-Americans (125lbs and 174lbs).

In the 2018 season Oliver led the program back into a top 20 team finish for the first time since 2014 and for the first time ever in program history, the SMC wrestling program won the Northeastern District II Championship where he was nominated the 2018 Coach of the Year. Oliver also served as the 2018 HSSR Awards Presenter at the annual winter banquet. One of Coach Olivers wrestlers, Caleb Spears (Rutherfordton, NC), spent his 2018 summer wrestling at the USAwrestling U23 National Tournament competing in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman, placing 7th in Greco. Caleb also spent two weeks in Kazakhstan training and competing while on a Mission based wrestling trip. Caleb plans to compete at U23s again this year and will once again represent SMC and USAwrestling in his Mission Trip to Kazakhstan.

Matt Oliver comes to Spartanburg Methodist College after being an assistant wrestling coach for top ranked NJCAA program, Neosho County Community College. During Oliver’s two seasons with the Panthers, Neosho saw fifteen wrestlers qualify for the NJCAA Wrestling Championship where nine wrestlers earned All-American honors, with one making it all the way to the national finals. Neosho as a team finished 5th and 8th place those two years.

Before Oliver coached at Neosho, he spent the 2012-2013 season as an assistant for NCAA Division II program Newberry College. He helped coach the Wolves to their sixth consecutive Super Region I title and a sixth place finish at the NCAA Division II National Tournament. He assisted in coaching four NCAA All-Americans in addition to five Academic All-Americans.

Oliver joined the coaching staff at Newberry after an outstanding wrestling career for the Wolves. He was a four time NCAA Division II National Qualifier earning NCAA All-American honors in 2009 with a third place finish. Oliver posted a career 118-21 record at Newberry and holds the school record for most career major decisions. A native of Toms River, New Jersey, Oliver was a New Jersey State Champion in high school at 119lbs, posting a career record of 132-12. He set a New Jersey state record his senior year for most wins in a season. 

He earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Education with a minor in Coaching from Newberry College in 2012. 

Oliver, an avid social media aficionado, will be overseeing the SMC Wrestling social media accounts this season in addition to his coaching duties. Oliver helped Neosho Wrestling earn a spot as one of 10 finalist for the Best of Brand Awards for their social media presence in 2013-14. If you would like to track SMC wrestling on Twitter follow them at @GoSMCwrestling.