Niagara University baseball alum Matt Wietlispach ('10) has returned to Monteagle Ridge to serve as the department's strength and conditioning coach.

Wietlispach (2009-10) made his mark on the NU baseball program during his two seasons with the team. The Chicago native, started off his NU career in 2009 with a 12-game hitting streak. The outfielder went on to earn Second-Team All-MAAC honors after leading the Purple Eagles in games started (55), at-bats (214) and hits (65). He was second on the team in runs scored (40), doubles (12), total bases (93), walks (23) and stolen bases (20). He ended his season with at least one hit in 18 of the final 22 games. The 214 at-bats set a new single-season record for the program.

Wietlispach had another stellar season in 2010, claiming the top spot on the team in most offensive categories, including batting average (.333), at-bats (219), runs scored (48), hits (73), home runs (9), runs batted in (45) and slugging percentage (.511). He tied for the lead in games played (53) and stolen bases (19). Wietlispach's 219 at-bats broke his own single-season record set the previous year, a mark that still stands today.  Prior to transferring to NU for his junior and senior seasons, Wietlispach played baseball as a freshman and sophomore at Elgin Community College in Elgin, Ill.

Wietlispach has served as the head strength and conditioning coach at Oakton Community College (April 2011 to Jan. 2012), Parkland College (Jan. to Oct. 2012) and Erie Community College (Oct. 2012 to Feb. 2014). He was responsible for developing summer workouts specifically tailored for each student-athlete, training players in speed and agility, and facilitating in-season workouts while incorporating functional and rehabilitation techniques. While at Parkland and Erie, Wietlispach was also the assistant baseball coach. In this role, he created and executed baseball camps, recruiting trips and community service events.

Wietlispach was a strength and conditioning intern for the University at Buffalo (Oct. 2012 to Mar. 2013) and the Buffalo Sabres (May to Oct. 2013). These positions enabled him to manage and motivate each athlete, monitor their progression, assist in developing lifting programs and coach form, technique and posture.  

Wietlispach was most recently an account executive at CoachMePlus, a sports science and athlete data management company. He consulted a number of NCAA teams on tracking and analyzing sports science data, conducted presentations in front of groups such as front office members, coaches and medical staff, trained interns on the company's software and consulted several professional teams about athlete monitoring.