Moon Township, Pa. - Robert Morris University men's basketball head coach Andrew Toole announced today the hiring of Matt Hahn as an assistant coach with the Colonials. Hahn, a native of Columbia, Md., is the first of two assistant coaching hires for Toole.
"I'm extremely excited and pleased that Matt has decided to join our program as an assistant coach," Toole said. "Matt shares a similar vision and values of how the game of basketball is supposed to be played, and that's with passion, intensity and energy. He's proved that at Vermont and La Salle, and we're very fortunate to have him as an assistant at Robert Morris. I know Matt will help us capitalize on the success we've had the last three seasons at RMU as well as elevate our program to even greater success."
Hahn joins the Robert Morris men's basketball coaching staff after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Vermont under head coach Mike Lonergan.
From 2005 to 2010 with Hahn as an assistant, the Catamounts posted an overall record of 103-59 (.636), including a mark of 56-24 (.700) in the America East. Vermont claimed three America East regular-season championships (2007, 2009, 2010) during that span and appeared in the postseason three times, including berths in the NIT in 2007, the CBI in 2009 and the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
"It's an exciting opportunity to join Coach Toole, who is one of the rising stars in the business, on his staff at Robert Morris," Hahn said. "I'm looking forward to coming in and helping in all areas of the program, from recruiting to coaching. It's exciting to be around a group of players that have great potential and have already experienced a large amount of success. I'm absolutely thrilled and ecstatic about the chance to help in continuing the success of the Robert Morris program."
While at Vermont, Hahn was instrumental in recruiting former forward Marqus Blakely (2006-10), who was named the America East Player of the Year twice (2008, 2009) and the America East Defensive Player of the Year three times (2008, 2009, 2010). In addition, Hahn recruited Mike Trimboli, Joe Trapani, Evan Fjeld and Maurice Joseph at Vermont.
Trimboli was named the 2006 America East Rookie of the Year and went on to be to a four-time All-America East selection, while Trapani was named to the 2007 America East All-Rookie Team. In 2010, both Fjeld and Joseph earned spots on the All-America East Third Team.
Prior to his appointment at Vermont, Hahn spent three seasons as an assistant coach with Atlantic 10 member La Salle from 2001-04. As a member of the staff with the Explorers, Hahn recruited Steven Smith, the 2005 Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year and the 2006 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. He was also instrumental in the development of Rasual Butler, who has spent the last eight years in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Miami Heat, the New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Hahn is a 2000 graduate of the University of Maryland with a Bachelor Arts degree in journalism. He spent four seasons with the Terrapins as a reserve guard under legendary head coach Gary Williams, serving as team captain as a senior in 1999-2000.
In each of this four years at Maryland, the Terrapins advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including Sweet Sixteen berths in 1998 and 1999. A member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll, Hahn's teammates included future NBA regulars Steve Blake, Juan Dixon and Steve Francis.
From a coaching family, Hahn's father, Billy, has spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at West Virginia University under head coach Bob Huggins. Billy Hahn served as the head coach at La Salle from 2001-04 with his son on staff.
Hahn has been named one the top 50 mid-major assistant coaches in the country in two of the last three years, and he also has spent time with various camps throughout the Northeast region, including the prestigious Eastern Invitational.
THE MATT HAHN FILE
Birthdate: Feb. 27, 1978
Hometown: Columbia, Md.
Age: 32
Alma Mater / Year: University of Maryland / 2000
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (Journalism)
High School: Atholton (Columbia, Md.)
COLLEGIATE COACHING EXPERIENCE:
Robert Morris University; Moon Township, Pa.
- Assistant Coach (2010- )
The University of Vermont; Burlington, Vt.
- Assistant Coach (2005-2010)
La Salle University; Philadelphia, Pa.
- Assistant Coach (2001-04)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
University of Maryland; College Park, Md.
- Guard (1996-2000)
Atholton High School; Columbia, Md.
- Guard (1992-96)
