Boyd-Buchanan School has announced the hiring of Matt Hoppe as the head basketball coach of the Buccaneers.
Director of Athletics Matt Pobieglo said, “The Boyd-Buchanan community is excited to have someone the caliber of Matt Hoppe directing our basketball program. Matt is an outstanding high-level coach who understands the complexities of Division II and has a proven track record of success.
“Coach Hoppe’s ability to connect and develop student-athletes at all levels along with his experience in Christian education makes him a natural choice”.
Hoppe has over 25 years of coaching experience and comes to Boyd-Buchanan from Clarksville Academy where he served as the head basketball coach and athletic director. He compiled a record of 47-17 in his tenure at Clarksville Academy where the Cougars would make a Final Four and Elite Eight appearance. Before his stint at Clarksville, Hoppe served as head basketball coach at Brentwood Academy compiling a 70-12 record with a state runner-up finish, a final-four appearance, a quarterfinal appearance, two DII AA Middle Region Championships, and coached two Mr. Basketball finalists. While at BA, Hoppe would also serve as an assistant to legendary TSSAA Hall of Fame basketball coach Hubie Smith where the Eagles won two DII AA State Championships and made another TSSAA state finals appearance. Hoppe coached three-time DII AA Mr. Basketball winner and current NBA All-Star and Cleveland Cavalier point guard Darius Garland.
Hoppe is no stranger to student and basketball development as he was the coordinator for Brentwood Academy’s Flight League, a youth league for boys and girls in kindergarten-8th grade. With extensive international experience, Hoppe teamed with Global Sports Partners and served as director of basketball operations and head coach for the London Pulse which expanded to over 400 players in his tenure. He would also become head coach for the 18U National League Team, assist the 16U England National Team, and compete in the London Youth Games. As a FIBA-certified coach, Hoppe has hosted multiple coaching and player development clinics in the Middle East, including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
“I am thrilled to join the Boyd-Buchanan family as the head boys’ basketball coach. This program has a history of success and I hope to continue that excellence as the leader of this program,” said Hoppe. “My priority is to our young men and ensuring they are coached and led in a positive direction. Boyd-Buchanan’s mission of being a faith based independent school that fully nurtures the spiritual, academic, social, and physical potential of each student is what excites me most about this opportunity. I am a players’ coach and place a high value on educating athletes on how to be successful on the court, in the classroom, and in the locker room. I can’t wait to get started”.
Hoppe earned his BA from Samford University (1999) and completed his Master of Teaching from Belmont University (2003). Hoppe began his career as an assistant at Union University (1999-2000) and has coached at Battle Ground Academy, University School of Jackson, and North Florida Christian Academy.