University of Sioux Falls Athletics

Dan Mathews is in his sixth year as the Head Coach of Women’s Volleyball at the University of Sioux Falls. While at USF, Mathews has compiled an overall record of 63-48 with a conference record of 39-31. In his first two seasons, he guided the Cougars to the 2022 NSIC Tournament, back-to-back winning seasons, and five victories over nationally ranked opponents. Under his leadership, USF produced a 2021 NCAA DII All-American, the 2022 NSIC Freshman of the Year, and five NSIC All-Conference selections. During the 2024-25 academic year, the program also earned the AVCA Team Academic Award for its excellence in the classroom.

During the 2025 season, Head Coach Dan Mathews led the University of Sioux Falls Women’s Volleyball program to an outstanding 20-10 overall record (14-6 in NSIC play). Under his direction, the Cougars ran a highly efficient offense that outhit opponents .279 to .205 while averaging 13.5 kills per set (1,469 total) and anchoring the net with 232 total blocks. Beyond their statistical dominance on the court, Mathews fostered an elite culture of achievement that resulted in six NSIC Team of Excellence selections, five NSIC All-Academic awards, four CSC Academic All-District honors, and a pair of First-Team All-NSIC selections.

In 2024, the Cougars finished 15-12 overall and placed eighth in the NSIC standings. Eight athletes earned NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honors, while four were named to the NSIC All-Academic Team.

In 2023, USF posted a 13-15 record and again finished eighth in the NSIC. That season, 10 athletes earned NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence recognition, and four received CSC Academic All-District honors.

Mathews arrived at USF after four seasons as the Head Coach of both Men’s and Women’s Volleyball at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, WI. He led the programs to a combined 140-113 overall record and an 82-35 conference mark. In 2018, he was named the NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Coach of the Year and earned Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year honors in both 2018 and 2020.

Before Cardinal Stritch, Mathews guided Clarke University Men’s Volleyball to a 30-8 record in 2014-15. He then joined the University of Portland as an assistant coach for the NCAA DI indoor and beach volleyball programs from 2015-16.

As a player, Mathews competed professionally from 2008-13 before transitioning into coaching. He played for Al-Ain Volleyball Club in Abu Dhabi (2008-09), Volley Guada in Madrid, Spain (2009-10), and then spent three seasons in Switzerland with Volley Amriswil (Zurich) and Chênois Volleyball Club (Geneva). While in Switzerland, he also competed in the CEV European Volleyball Cup for three years.

Mathews also has international experience with the USA National Team. He represented the U.S. at the 2003 FIVB NORCECA Youth World Qualifier in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and the 2005 NORCECA Junior World Qualifier in Winnipeg, Canada. In 2006, he competed at the FIVB Junior World Championships in Visakhapatnam, India. From 2008-09, he trained with Team USA in Anaheim, CA under Olympic gold medal-winning coaches Hugh McCutcheon and Ron Larson.

At The Ohio State University, Mathews was a two-time NCAA DI First-Team All-American (2007, 2008) and a two-time Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Player of the Year. He earned MIVA First-Team All-Conference honors three times, was the 2005 MIVA Freshman of the Year, and helped lead OSU to two NCAA DI Final Four appearances, two MIVA Championships, and two MIVA Tournament titles.

Mathews graduated from Ohio State in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Medieval European History. He was a three-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and the 2008 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient. He later earned a master’s degree in Sport Management from Cardinal Stritch in 2020 and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at USF.

A 2004 graduate of Shorewood High School in Milwaukee, WI, Mathews was a two-time Wisconsin State Player of the Year in boys’ volleyball. He is the proud father of two sons, Lucas and Thomas, who enjoy soccer, video games, the beach, camping, and reading.

USF Records and Accomplishments

-         - 63 wins entering the 2025 season
- 2022 NSIC Tournament appearance
-  Six wins against Top-25 Teams
- One Freshman Player of the Year (Sadie Voss- 2022)
- 9 All-NSIC Honorees
- 5 Myles Brand Award Recipients
- 21 NSIC All-Academic Honorees
- 26 NISC All-Academic Team of Excellence Honorees
- 12 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award Recipients
- 1 NSIC Honor Student Athlete (Krista Goerger 2021-22)
- AVCA Team Academic Award (2024-25)

*Covid shortened or canceled seasons
Updated:6/2026