At the end of the Fall 2024 season, Clark University Men’s Head Soccer Coach Matthew O’Toole announced his resignation. Now, the team will be led by Samuel Matteson–who has 13 years of coaching under his belt.
According to Clark University Athletics, Matteson has led his previous teams to victory on multiple occasions, from two Patriot League Tournament wins at Holy Cross to the New England College (NEC) Championships at Bryant University to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Tournament at Bridgewater State University.
Most recently, Clark University Athletics writes that Matteson coached MIT’s team for two years, which, like Clark, is a Division III (DIII) school in the New England Womens’ and Mens’ Athletics Conference (NEWMAC). The Scarlet met with Matteson to learn more about what it’s like to coach and play soccer at the DIII collegiate level.
Matteson said that he played DIII soccer at Mitchell College in Connecticut. There are “advantages” to playing Division III athletics, according to Matteson.
“There’s a big difference between a DI school and a DIII school,” Matteson explained. “At DIII schools, there’s an emphasis on the players’ academic journey as well.”
Matteson added that playing DIII allows players to study abroad, have flexible schedules, and become more involved in additional clubs and organizations on campus.
Clark student-athletes seem to be taking advantage of these opportunities. Matteson knows some of his athletes are tutors for students in the Worcester community and are utilizing the Worcester college consortium. Matteson has family ties to both Clark and Worcester and says it’s a major goal of his to get athletes more involved in the Worcester community as well.
“I’ve only been here a week, but I want to bring more hope and belief in how we play,” Matteson said. “As a team, we need to represent the school well.”
To accomplish these goals, Matteson said the team already “prioritizes relationships,” but he wants to build upon the “camaraderie aspect” of being part of a team, as well as further developing a relationship with the City of Worcester.
“I want people in Worcester to feel like they can come out and watch our games,” Matteson said.
Matteson knows the NEWMAC conference well, having coached for multiple schools in the conference already. While he said it’s difficult to make long-term goals for the team, especially after only having been here for a week, he says becoming successful and competitive in the NEWMAC is all about growing and developing “process goals.”
“Being a coach is about leading others,” Matteson said. “These athletes will be at Clark for the next four years, but they’ll be alumni for the next 60 years. I want them to be able to look back on their experiences fondly and feel connected to the community.”
As for his coaching strategy, Matteson said he has always been friendly with O’Toole and thinks he “did a great job.” Overall, Matteson said he wants to build on “what Matt did so well.” While Matteson was tight-lipped about additional future plans, he mentioned considering “bringing a new perspective to recruiting.”
“Basketball has been doing really well, and I think soccer can be really successful as well,” Matteson concluded. “The athletes’ job is to entertain, and I hope to have some really entertaining games this next season.”
