A nearly two-decade-long coaching veteran encompassing both the collegiate and global stages, Matt Blue was named an assistant coach for the Siena Men's Basketball program in April 2026.
“I have known Matt and his family for 24 years – he was my first recruit as a coach, and is now my first as a coach at Siena,” said head coach Nevada Smith. “Matt is one of the best basketball coaches in America, and his unique ways to promote development and growth make him a huge asset to our program. His international ties will help us secure future Saints from all over the world.”
Blue arrives in Loudonville with 11 years of collegiate coaching experience as an assistant at Loyola MD (2024-26), Lafayette (2009-10, 2015-17), Hartford (2010-15), and Division III Susquehanna (2008-09). He also spent eight years working National Basketball Association development programs in both Australia and Asia.
“I am very excited and humbled to be joining Nevada, and to be part of an awesome basketball culture here at Siena,” said Blue upon his appointment. “This is a full circle moment for me and something that Nevada and I had talked about for years, dating back to when he first recruited me at St. Lawrence. His energy, passion, and IQ are infectious, and I can’t wait to get started working with our players and staff.”
Blue matriculates to Siena following a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Loyola (MD), where he helped develop a pair of All-Patriot League selections this past season.
Blue arrived in Baltimore following his transformational experience working abroad for the NBA. During his final four years overseas, he also served as a player development coach for the NBA Global Academy at Basketball Australia’s Centre for Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. Blue led the day-to-day development of top players from around the globe – including NBA Draft picks Tyrese Proctor, Alex Toohey, and Johnny Furphy – while also coaching teams at NBA Academy events throughout the world. He began his overseas odyssey with a three-year stint at NBA Academy China where he mentored Han Xu, the 14th selection in the 2019 WNBA Draft.
Blue served two separate stints at Lafayette, working for the Patriot League’s all-time wins leader, Fran O’Hanlon. The Leopards reached the Patriot League Championship Game in his first season on staff in 2010.
Between his tenures at Lafayette, Blue spent five years on staff at Hartford, where he specialized in shooting techniques which helped the Hawks lead the America East in made threes in four of his final five seasons. He played a role in Hartford being a perennial America East contender while earning a pair of CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) appearances in both 2012 and 2013.
Blue began his collegiate coaching career at DIII Susquehanna, helping the River Hawks to an 18-8 record in 2008-09.
A 2007 graduate of St. Lawrence with a B.A. in English, Blue was a team captain for the Saints which he led to 23 wins and an NCAA Division III Tournament Second Round appearance his senior season. A native of Bellingham, Massachusetts, Blue was recruited by and played his freshman season under Smith, who had begun his coaching career as a graduate assistant at St. Lawrence.
