The longest tenured assistant coach for Morehead State men’s basketball has been elevated to Associate Head Coach. Jonathan Mattox, who began his Eagle coaching career as graduate manager before rising in the ranks, is the new Associate Head Coach with Preston Spradlin.

Mattox assisted in leading the Eagle program to prominence in 2020-21, winning the program’s first Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship in 10 years and leading the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament with a 23-8 record. Morehead State lost only one game in the 2021 year before the NCAA Tournament. While Mattox has been a member of the MSU staff, the program has put together three 20-win seasons.

Working primarily with the big men, Johni Broome was named OVC Freshman of the Year in 2020-21 and made First-Team All-OVC as well as Freshman All-America.

“I am excited to elevate Jonathan to associate head coach. He and I have worked together here at Morehead State for more than seven years, and he was the first coach with me when we began rebuilding our program four years ago,” said Spradlin. “Jonathan has worked tirelessly on the recruiting trail, been instrumental in the development of our players and cultivated meaningful relationships with members of our campus and community. I am thrilled to continue our success and work to compete for future championships.” 

Mattox has been named one of the top assistants in the Ohio Valley Conference by multiple media organizations.

Mattox officially took on the interim assistant coaching position on Dec. 15, 2016, nine games into the 2016-17 season after the Eagles opened with a 2-7 record. He then helped lead Morehead State to a 12-9 record the rest of the way and a 10-6 mark in OVC play, which ranked second in the league. Xavier Moon was named First Team All-OVC and DeJuan Marrero was named Second Team All-OVC.

He helped lead the Eagles to a 23-14 overall record and 11-5 Ohio Valley Conference mark, along with a second place finish in the College Basketball Invitational in 2015-16.

With their trip to the championship series of the CBI, Morehead State won four postseason games, the most in program history.

He helped the Eagles to a 17-17 overall record and 10-6 Ohio Valley Conference mark in 2014-15, despite over half the team suffering significant injuries.

He also helped MSU to a 20-14 overall record and 10-6 OVC mark in 2013-14, which was another injury-plagued campaign. The Eagles made their ninth straight league tournament appearance and played in the CBI.

In his first season, Morehead State reached the 20-win plateau for just the sixth time in school history and postseason play for just the ninth time. The Eagles also managed the league’s best road record (9-7).

Mattox was a graduate manager at MSU from 2013-15 and director of operations from 2015-16.  As graduate manager and director of operations, he handled a variety of behind-the-scenes tasks and administrative duties. He coordinated team travel, including buses, flights, hotels and meals.  He was involved with academics monitoring, on-campus recruiting, film exchange and general video operations.  In addition, Mattox coordinated a variety of men’s basketball camps the Eagles host each year.

Mattox helped NAIA school Emmanuel (Ga.) to a 49-21 record in two years as an assistant men’s basketball coach from 2011-13.  He assisted with on-court coaching, player development, scouting and recruiting for the Lions.

He started his playing career at Division II member Anderson (S.C.) and finished at Emmanuel.  As a senior, he helped the Lions to a 26-8 overall record and Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament championship.

Mattox earned four letters in basketball at Oconee County High School (Ga.).  As a senior, he helped the Warriors to a Class AAA Region 8 title and berth in the Class AAA Elite Eight.  He notched Second-Team All-Northeast Georgia honors his final two years.

Mattox earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Emmanuel in 2011 and master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia (Calif.) in 2013.

He is married to the former Katie Harvill. The couple has a young son, Jonah.

Story Courtesy: Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations