Fox Chapel Area girls basketball coach Marty Matvey notched his 100th career win on what turned out to be a lucky Friday for him. On Dec. 13, during an already celebratory senior night, the Foxes defeated Penn Hills, 54-50, propelling him to the 100 Club.
“It’s a good start to our playoff hopes,” coach Matvey said, reflecting on the game and milestone.
Although the accomplishment is significant, the coach downplayed the personal glory, instead focusing on the athletes he has coached.
“The athletes and team win the game, so they get the credit,” he says. “I just try to put them in the best position to do so, and we are along for the ride. I love game strategy, team building, and seeing that ‘aha’ moment when a player and the team put it all together and gain confidence, on and off the court. As a coach, there’s no better feeling.”
Basketball as a Life Teacher
Throughout his many years in athletics, both as a player and a coach, coach Matvey still believes basketball is one of the best ways to build character.
“To me, basketball is a fantastic teacher about how to handle the ups and downs of life itself, resilience, putting others before your own wants and needs, and how to pick yourself back up and focus on the end goal, despite coming up short,” he explains.
Senior co-captain and shooting guard Bella Urso praises her coach for his impact on the program.
“On the court, he is always bringing energy and positivity, pushing us to help our teammates, and to ‘do the next big thing,’ ” she says. “Off the court, he is always relating basketball to life. He teaches us how to battle adversity and overcome any setbacks. He’s always there for everyone on the team and encourages us to be the best we can be.”
Building Through Relationships
During his tenure at Fox Chapel Area, the coach has emphasized developing the program from the ground up. It’s been fulfilling for him to have former Foxes and other players whom he’s met or coached along the way, join him as coaches.
Additionally, some of coach Matvey’s most treasured moments are when former players keep in touch. He says, “It’s an amazing feeling when players I’ve coached or met through basketball come back to see a game or come to an open gym to watch us practice,” he says. Some former players have even reached out to him through social media.
Mike O’Brien, Fox Chapel Area director of athletics, praises his coach for his contributions to the program.
“Marty has played a key role in fostering relationships with players across all levels of the program,” Mr. O’Brien says. “He and his staff work hard to spark interest and growth by offering numerous opportunities for improvement, both in-season and, especially, during the offseason. As a result, the girls’ basketball program has seen its highest player participation during his tenure. This strong foundation will continue to support the program’s success moving forward. Marty’s emphasis on skill development, teamwork, and strategy ensures that players are competitive, well-prepared, and enthusiastic about the future.”
Players Weigh In
Freshman Bailey Sacco, who made the varsity squad, says, “Coach Matvey is a very devoted and dedicated coach. He works endlessly to improve our program and get everyone involved.”
Bella, a starter since her freshman year, has witnessed the teams’ growth and improvements.
She says, “Every year, we have strived to better our team chemistry. Our work ethic has gone up, and so has our communication.”
Senior Shay Pick highlighted her coach’s efforts to improve the program.
“He runs a summer and fall league, and also gives so many opportunities for younger players to get an early start on basketball,” she says. “He lets the middle schoolers come to open gyms, and that allows them to experience what high school practices are like. Coach Matvey is special. I think the main thing that sticks out to me is his passion. It’s so infectious and he motivates everyone on the team to show that passion as well. You can just tell he genuinely wants to be there to watch us play and help us get better.”
17-year Coaching Journey
Coach Matvey’s coaching career spans 17 years, beginning with Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) boys basketball at St. Maurice Parish in Forest Hills, where he helped lead the boys team to a 55-39 record and three state playoff appearances. He later served as a student assistant at Duquesne University under Olympic gold medalist Suzie McConnell-Serio, where two teams advanced to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) playoffs.
Coach Matvey then landed his first assistant college coaching position at Chatham University, where he helped the women’s team reach its first Presidents’ Athletic Conference semifinals in school history. Then, he joined Robert Morris University’s women’s team as its scout video coordinator.
Prior to his appointment as the head coach at Fox Chapel Area, coach Matvey spent five years coaching within the girls program at South Park High School, where his teams won two section titles, consistently qualified for the WPIAL playoffs and made multiple state playoffs, including a PIAA semifinals appearance in 2016.
Challenges Appealing
When coach Matvey was offered the head coaching position at Fox Chapel Area, he viewed it as an exciting opportunity to compete in the highly competitive WPIAL Class 5A and 6A.
Since then, there have been no limits to the energy he puts into puts the program. One story he recalls is the year he asked to coach the middle school’s girls volleyball team. He dedicated himself to helping those athletes, but in the back of his mind, he was also looking to recruit athletes with height to play basketball. (The sports do not have conflicting seasons.)
Many of his current freshmen that played on that volleyball team now have joined him on the basketball court, ready to contribute.
The Road Ahead
“We’ve reached some of our goals, but there are more boxes to check off,” says the coach. “Each year brings new challenges and lessons. We know we need to constantly change. You cannot coach the same way for each player, and you cannot coach the same way each year. I like change, and there is a lot of that on and off the court.”
This year, he believes the blend of experienced players and rookies, who are improving with each game, gives them the potential to make the playoffs.
“Many of the teams we’ve faced in the past four years have had NCAA Division 1-level players,” he says. “They’ve now graduated, so we believe it’s our turn. This team is resilient and willing to sacrifice for the greater good.”