Matthew Botsford '98 named head coach for Swedish club team

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Matthew Botsford, a 1998 graduate of Tri-State (now Trine) University, recently was named the head coach for the Swedish club team Lindesberg Volley.

A social studies education major, Botsford was named to Trine’s Hall of Fame in 2005. He helped to lead the Thunder to its first NAIA/MIVA Championship in 1998 and was a four-time all-conference and academic all-conference selection. He finished his collegiate career as the school's all-time leader in kills, blocks and digs.

A 13-year veteran in the college coaching ranks, Botsford spent over three seasons with the Irish after being hired by the University of Notre Dame as an assistant volleyball coach in February of 2008.

According to Notre Dame’s website, Botsford is already a well-known icon within the Swedish professional ranks, having spent the spring of 2003 playing for the Vingaker Volleyball Club. He displayed his all-around skills by emerging as one of the team's most prolific players, leading the squad in blocks and hitting percentage throughout the playoffs. Botsford helped guide Vingaker to the finals of the Swedish Elite Series and a berth in the European CEV Cup for the first time in the team's 30-year history.

"While I'm sad to see Matt leave our program, I'm so very happy for him to have this unique opportunity to return to Sweden to coach," Irish head coach Debbie Brown said. "The time and energy Matt has invested in our program over the past four years has been tremendous. He is an excellent teacher and recruiter, and his passions for the game and for Notre Dame have been infectious. I would like to publicly thank him for the huge positive impact he has had on our program."

Botsford was said to have been an instrumental part of Notre Dame’s recent success on the court, including a BIG EAST regular season title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009.

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To share your news, contact Trine University communication specialist Lindsay Winslow Brown at winslowbrownl@trine.edu.