Matt Riser - Head Coach - Staff Directory - University of Memphis Athletics

Staff Directory

Matt Riser

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Head Coach
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Riser came to the Tigers after 10 seasons as head coach at Southeastern Louisiana, where he helped guide the Lions to four NCAA Tournament berths and three Southland Conference titles.

In his first season at the helm of the Tigers, head coach Matt Riser made his mark on the program. Recently recognized by Baseball America as one of the nation’s top coaches under the age of 40, Riser led the Tigers to a win over SEC foe Ole Miss at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field – the first win over the Rebels in Memphis since 2017 and the first on campus since 2001.

The first-year skipper also led the Tigers to their first conference road sweep in over a decade (May 17-19, 2012 at Houston; C-USA) – a three-game series sweep of the Rice Owls at Reckling Park in Houston. In addition, Riser led the Tigers to a road-AAC series win at his alma mater, Tulane, who went on to win the AAC Tournament and advance to an NCAA Regional for the second-straight season.

In year one of the Riser era, the Tigers slugged 68 home runs (fifth most in program history) and walked 284 times to rank second in the AAC (third most in program history). On the mound, the Tigers saved 16 games (T-No. 5 in Memphis history), nine of which were saved by NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watchlist honoree Brayden Sanders. Sanders’ nine saves were also good for fifth-most individually in a season by a Tiger and led The American.

Memphis slugged a program-record seven home runs in a 14-4, run-rule home win over Central Arkansas on Feb. 21. The Tigers tallied 43 total bases in the win – good for second most in a single game in program history. In addition to the seven-home-run outburst, Memphis boasted its power with a pair of five-home-run games. The Tigers lit up the scoreboard, posting 10-plus runs in 13 contests, and 13-plus runs on 10 occasions.

The Tigers were aggressive on the base paths in the first year under Riser, successfully swiping 89 bags to lead The American and rank 43^rd nationally. Defensively, Memphis turned 54 double plays to rank 12^th in the nation. Daunte Stuart became just the fourth Tiger since 2001 to hit for the cycle with a 5-for-5 effort in the season’s conference-opening game at South Florida on March 22 – a 16-7 win.

Riser and the Tigers have created positive momentum within the program and fan base which was evident with a pair of top-five all-time crowds at FedExPark during the 2024 season. Riser and the Tigers defeated Ole Miss at home on April 2 in front the fifth-largest FedExPark crowd (1,426) in program history and drew another 1,612 spectators (third-largest FedExPark attendance in history) on April 23 when they hosted Mississippi State.

In year one, Riser and the Tiger staff pieced together JBB’s No. 5 JUCO recruiting class in the country for 2024.

Southeastern Louisiana’s success under Riser garnered national recognition, leading to the program’s first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament (2016), first preseason national ranking (2017) and a Top-25 ranking during the 2018 season. Southeastern’s four NCAA appearances since 2014 placed Riser third all-time in Southland history.

With 320 wins with the Lions and back-to-back 40-win seasons (2015-16), Riser finished second in program history in all-time wins with his overall record of 320-224.

In 15 total seasons at Southeastern, Riser coached 22 All-Americans, including nine Freshman All-Americans and a trio of Academic All-Americans, the National Stopper of the Year, the nation’s leading hitter and 10 Academic All-District players. Four were named the Southland Conference Player of the Year and three earned Freshman of the Year honors. A pair were named Southland Relief Pitcher of the Year while one was named both Southland Pitcher of the Year and Louisiana Pitcher of the Year. Twenty-five players were drafted under Riser’s tutelage.

In 2022, the Lions totaled 14 comeback victories – including seven walk-off wins – on the way to earning a Southland Conference Tournament championship and returning to NCAA postseason action. Riser led the Lions earned marquee wins over No. 3-ranked Arkansas and No. 1-ranked Ole Miss, the eventual national champion, grinding through a slate of games that ranked seventh in the nation in non-conference strength of schedule.

Southeastern’s 2022 offense ranked in the program’s Top 10 in doubles, triples and home runs. The 70 home runs hit by SLU were the fourth-most in program history and the most in more than two decades. Preston Faulkner enjoyed one of the most well-rounded offensive seasons ever by a Lion, hitting .338 with 18 doubles, 17 home runs, 70 RBIs and 39 walks.

Riser was named the 2015 Southland Conference Coach of the Year as the Lions set the school record for overall wins (42-17) and the Southland record for conference wins (25-5) on the way to claiming the conference's regular-season title.

In his inaugural season at the helm in 2014, Southeastern finished with a 38-25 record, winning the Southland Conference Tournament to advance to NCAA Regional play for the first time in 20 years and knocking off Bryant University, 2-1, for the school's first NCAA postseason victory since 1992.

Prior to taking over the reins of the program, Riser served as the Lions’ primary hitting coach while working extensively with the Southeastern outfielders. He also served as the third-base coach during games and the program’s recruiting coordinator, among other duties, during his six seasons as an assistant under former coach Jay Artigues. Under Riser’s guidance, the Lion offense produced the 2012 Southland Conference Player and Hitter of the Year Brock Hebert (.374, 58 runs, 21 doubles, 36 stolen bases).

Riser, a Picayune, Miss., native, began his coaching career after completing his collegiate career at Tulane, where he played in 2005-06.

With the Green Wave, Riser played in 108 games over the course of two seasons. As a senior, he played in all 64 games and made 57 starts, finishing the season with three home runs, 37 RBI and 16 doubles, helping Tulane to a NCAA Regional Final Appearance. In 2005, Riser played a vital role in helping Tulane to the 2005 College World Series, playing in 44 games as a junior.

Riser earned his degree in biomedical engineering from Tulane University in 2007. He and wife, Jeanette, are the parents of three sons, Alexander “Xander”, Jace and Jameson.