Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Basketball
Cline, Matt
Matt Cline
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- emu_basketball@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.0214
Matt Cline finished his fourth year as an assistant coach at EMU in 2020-21. Cline came to Ypsilanti after spending the 2016-17 season as the director of basketball operations for the East Tennessee State University men's basketball team. Cline previously served as EMU's director of basketball operations from 2014-16.
In Cline’s first year as an assistant coach, EMU finished with 22 wins and a CBI postseason appearance. The Eagles also led the MAC in seven different defensive categories, and were ranked first in the nation in combined blocks and steals per game. Throughout the past four years, the Eagles have had six all-conference selections as well as the 2018 Defensive Player of the Year in Tim Bond.
Eastern Michigan struggled to find a consistent rhythm with 13 games either postponed, canceled, or rescheduled in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign. Eastern Michigan finished with a 6-12 (3-11 MAC) record, but still found a way to lead the league in two statistical categories: steals per game and turnovers forced. The Eagles' 8.8 swipes per contest ranked 13th in the NCAA, while the 15.4 TOs forced was good for 47th among Division I programs. Individually, senior Yeikson Montero led the conference and ranked 23rd in the country in steals per game (2.2).
During the 2019-20 campaign, the Green and White went undefeated in the Jersey Mike’s Classic taking the Rose Hall Division trophy back to Ypsilanti, winning an in-season tournament for the first time since 2014. Eastern finished the season ranked third in the NCAA in total steals, fourth in steals per game, and 14th in turnovers forced.
Cline joined the ETSU men’s basketball staff in the summer of 2016. He helped the Buccaneers to one of the most successful seasons in school history. The team finished with a 27-8 overall record, nothing the second most wins in program history, as well as the 2017 Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships. The 13th-seed in the NCAA Tournament, ETSU ranked 13th nationally in field goal percentage (48.8) and steals per game (8.4).
While at EMU, the Eagles went 21-14 in 2014-15, and appeared in the CBI postseason tournament. In 2015-16, EMU went 18-14, winning eight of its final 12 games. Cline coordinated the team's travel, budget, community services programs, and other operational duties assigned by Coach Murphy.
Cline joined the EMU staff after a one-year stint at Northwest Florida State College, where he served as an assistant coach. Cline helped the Raiders finish the season 22-6 and reach a ranking of No. 1 overall in the NJCAA. Northwest Florida State sent eight of its student-athletes to the NCAA Division I ranks following the successful season. During his time with the Raiders, he assisted in scouting, game preparations, guard play development, student-athlete academic programs, and strength and conditioning.
Prior to his time as a coach with NWFSC, Cline spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Florida State University. In his first season working with the Seminoles, the Leonard Hamilton-coached squad won FSU's first ever Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Championship, earning a No. 3-seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Cline earned his graduate assistantship after graduating from the University of South Alabama where he was a one-year letter winner in basketball. From the 2007-11 seasons, the Binghamton, N.Y., native served as the head manager of the squad before earning a spot on the team in his senior season.
In addition to his time at USA, Cline spent one season at Broome Community College after being named an all-metro and all-conference player at Seton Catholic Central High School in 2006.
Since the 2018 offseason, Cline has been invited annually to participate in TopConnect. This college basketball networking event provides a platform for up-and-coming assistant coaches and athletic directors from around the country to learn from one another and help prepare the assistants to become future head coaches.
Cline was also named one of “50 Impactful Mid-Major Assistants” by Silver Waves Media in 2020.
During the pandemic summer of 2020, Cline co-found "The Manager Connection" program in conjunction with "Grow The Game." "Grow The Game" is an organization that assists the next generation of coaches build genuine relationships and advance their career. In "The Manager Connection," current student-managers are paired once a month with former student-managers that now have successful careers in college or professional athletics. The pay-it-forward initiative has a mission to assist current student-managers with growing their professional network, so it can help jump start their job prospects and career upon graduation.
On top of his career in collegiate and high school basketball, Cline has interned with a pair of player development organizations. In 2010, Cline worked with the BX Player Development group in New York under Rob Baxter in strength, speed, and on court player development. During 2011, he worked under Mike Procopio and Tim Grover at Attack Athletics in Chicago, Ill. Cline assisted in on court player development, the strength and conditioning program, and Nike Skills Academies.
Cline has volunteered with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program since 2012. He has also worked numerous college basketball summer camps including Cornell, Boston College, Binghamton University, Villanova, South Alabama, and Florida State. In the summer of 2011, Cline was part of Crossover International, a Christian faith-based organization that traveled to Europe to conduct basketball clinics for youth.
Cline graduated from South Alabama in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in physical education, earning cum laude honors. He then earned a master's in sport management with magna cum laude honors from Florida State in 2013.
In Cline’s first year as an assistant coach, EMU finished with 22 wins and a CBI postseason appearance. The Eagles also led the MAC in seven different defensive categories, and were ranked first in the nation in combined blocks and steals per game. Throughout the past four years, the Eagles have had six all-conference selections as well as the 2018 Defensive Player of the Year in Tim Bond.
Eastern Michigan struggled to find a consistent rhythm with 13 games either postponed, canceled, or rescheduled in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign. Eastern Michigan finished with a 6-12 (3-11 MAC) record, but still found a way to lead the league in two statistical categories: steals per game and turnovers forced. The Eagles' 8.8 swipes per contest ranked 13th in the NCAA, while the 15.4 TOs forced was good for 47th among Division I programs. Individually, senior Yeikson Montero led the conference and ranked 23rd in the country in steals per game (2.2).
During the 2019-20 campaign, the Green and White went undefeated in the Jersey Mike’s Classic taking the Rose Hall Division trophy back to Ypsilanti, winning an in-season tournament for the first time since 2014. Eastern finished the season ranked third in the NCAA in total steals, fourth in steals per game, and 14th in turnovers forced.
Cline joined the ETSU men’s basketball staff in the summer of 2016. He helped the Buccaneers to one of the most successful seasons in school history. The team finished with a 27-8 overall record, nothing the second most wins in program history, as well as the 2017 Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships. The 13th-seed in the NCAA Tournament, ETSU ranked 13th nationally in field goal percentage (48.8) and steals per game (8.4).
While at EMU, the Eagles went 21-14 in 2014-15, and appeared in the CBI postseason tournament. In 2015-16, EMU went 18-14, winning eight of its final 12 games. Cline coordinated the team's travel, budget, community services programs, and other operational duties assigned by Coach Murphy.
Cline joined the EMU staff after a one-year stint at Northwest Florida State College, where he served as an assistant coach. Cline helped the Raiders finish the season 22-6 and reach a ranking of No. 1 overall in the NJCAA. Northwest Florida State sent eight of its student-athletes to the NCAA Division I ranks following the successful season. During his time with the Raiders, he assisted in scouting, game preparations, guard play development, student-athlete academic programs, and strength and conditioning.
Prior to his time as a coach with NWFSC, Cline spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Florida State University. In his first season working with the Seminoles, the Leonard Hamilton-coached squad won FSU's first ever Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Championship, earning a No. 3-seed in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Cline earned his graduate assistantship after graduating from the University of South Alabama where he was a one-year letter winner in basketball. From the 2007-11 seasons, the Binghamton, N.Y., native served as the head manager of the squad before earning a spot on the team in his senior season.
In addition to his time at USA, Cline spent one season at Broome Community College after being named an all-metro and all-conference player at Seton Catholic Central High School in 2006.
Since the 2018 offseason, Cline has been invited annually to participate in TopConnect. This college basketball networking event provides a platform for up-and-coming assistant coaches and athletic directors from around the country to learn from one another and help prepare the assistants to become future head coaches.
Cline was also named one of “50 Impactful Mid-Major Assistants” by Silver Waves Media in 2020.
During the pandemic summer of 2020, Cline co-found "The Manager Connection" program in conjunction with "Grow The Game." "Grow The Game" is an organization that assists the next generation of coaches build genuine relationships and advance their career. In "The Manager Connection," current student-managers are paired once a month with former student-managers that now have successful careers in college or professional athletics. The pay-it-forward initiative has a mission to assist current student-managers with growing their professional network, so it can help jump start their job prospects and career upon graduation.
On top of his career in collegiate and high school basketball, Cline has interned with a pair of player development organizations. In 2010, Cline worked with the BX Player Development group in New York under Rob Baxter in strength, speed, and on court player development. During 2011, he worked under Mike Procopio and Tim Grover at Attack Athletics in Chicago, Ill. Cline assisted in on court player development, the strength and conditioning program, and Nike Skills Academies.
Cline has volunteered with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program since 2012. He has also worked numerous college basketball summer camps including Cornell, Boston College, Binghamton University, Villanova, South Alabama, and Florida State. In the summer of 2011, Cline was part of Crossover International, a Christian faith-based organization that traveled to Europe to conduct basketball clinics for youth.
Cline graduated from South Alabama in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in physical education, earning cum laude honors. He then earned a master's in sport management with magna cum laude honors from Florida State in 2013.
| The Matt Cline File | ||
| Name: | Matthew Cline | |
| College: | University South Alabama - Bachelor’s degree in physical education - 2011 | |
| Florida State University - Master’s degree in sport management - 2013 | ||
| Professional Experience | ||
| Year | School/Team | Position |
| 2017-21 | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Coach |
| 2016-17 | East Tennessee State University | Director of Basketball Operations |
| 2014-16 | Eastern Michigan University | Director of Basketball Operations |
| 2013-14 | Northwest Florida State College | Assistant Coach |
| 2011-13 | Florida State University | Graduate Assistant Coach |
| 2007-11 | University of South Alabama | Head Manager/Student-Athlete |
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