University of Sioux Falls Athletics

Dan Mathews is in his fifth year as the Head Coach of Women’s Volleyball at the University of Sioux Falls. While at USF, Mathews has an overall record of 63-48 and a conference record of 39-31. In his first two seasons, Mathews led the Cougars to the 2022 NSIC Tournament, two consecutive winning seasons, and five wins against nationally ranked opponents. He also produced a 2021 NCAA DII All-American, the 2022 NSIC Freshman of the Year, and five NSIC All-Conference selections. During the 2024-25 season, the USF Volleyball team was awarded with the AVCA Team Academic Award thanks to their academic excellence.

In the 2024 season the Cougars finsihed the season 15-12 and 8th in the conference standings. They had 8 athletes that were awarded All-Academic Team of Excellence and 4 who were named to th eNSIC All-Academic Team.

In the 2023 season the Cougars finished the season 13-15 and 8th in conference standings. They had 10 athletes that were awarded All-Academic Team of Excellence and 4 Awarded CSC academic award.

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

Prior to Cardinal Stritch University, Mathews led Clarke University Men’s Volleyball to a 30-8 overall record as the Head Coach from 2014-2015. He then headed to the University of Portland where he served as the assistant coach for the NCAA DI Indoor and Sand Volleyball teams from 2015-2016.

Mathews played professional volleyball from 2008-2013 before retiring as a player and entering into coaching. In 2008-2009, Mathews competed professionally for Al-Ain Volleyball Club in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He then played professionally for Volley Guada in Madrid, Spain in 2009-2010. From 2010-2013, Mathews played professionally in Switzerland for Volley Amriswil in Zurich and Chenois Volleyball Club in Geneva. While in Switzerland, he also competed in the European Volleyball Cup (CEV) for three years.

Additionally, Mathews has experience with the USA National Team.  He competed in the 2003 FIVB NORCECA (North American, Central American and Caribbean) Youth National World Qualifier in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Mathews also competed in the 2005 FIVB NORCECA Junior National World Qualifier in Winnipeg, Canada. In 2006, Mathews traveled to Visakhapatnam, India to compete in the FIVB Junior World Championships. In 2008-2009, he trained with Team USA in Anaheim, CA under 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning coaches Hugh McCutcheon and Ron Larson.

An NCAA DI First-Team All-American in 2007 and 2008 at The Ohio State University, he was also named Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Player of the Year twice (2007, 2008). He was named to the MIVA First-Team All-Conference three times and was the 2005 MIVA Freshman of the Year. At OSU, his teams earned two NCAA DI Final Four appearances, two MIVA Conference Championships, and two MIVA Conference Tournament Championships.

In 2008, Mathews earned a bachelor's degree in Medieval European History from Ohio State. During that time, he was a three-time Ohio State Scholar Athlete and a 2008 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient. He then earned a master's degree in Sport Management from Cardinal Stritch University in 2020 and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from USF.

In 2004, Mathews graduated from Shorewood High School in Milwaukee, WI after earning back-to-back State Player of the Year accolades in boys' volleyball. Mathews has two sons, Lucas and Thomas, who love soccer, video games, going to 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)
- Seven All-NSIC Honorees
- Three Myles Brand Award Recipients
- 16 NSIC All-Academic Honorees
- 20 NISC All-Academic Team of Excellence Honorees
- 12 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award Recipients
- One NSIC Honor Student Athlete (Krista Goerger 2021-22)
- AVCA Team Academic Award (2024-25)

*Covid shortened or canceled seasons
Updated:7/2025