ANDERSON, S.C. – Anderson University Director of Athletics Bill D'Andrea on Tuesday announced that former Newberry College Director of Athletics Matt Finley has been named Senior Associate Athletics Director with the Trojans and will be responsible for overseeing NCAA Compliance, along with other duties within the department.
"Matt is a great addition both to our department and university," said D'Andrea. "We are very excited to have someone with his knowledge and depth of experience coming on board and we are looking forward to Matt contributing in many ways to the success of Anderson University athletics as we move forward."
Finley served nearly four years at the helm of the Wolves' athletic program and engineered Newberry's induction to the Eastern College Athletic Conference for its field hockey and wrestling programs, with the Wolves participating in the ECAC's awards programs and postseason tournaments. The NC football program was named the 2015 ECAC Division II Team of the Year and the women's soccer team participated in the 2015 ECAC postseason tournament. He also oversaw the addition of varsity field hockey and the Scarlet Poms dance team two years ago.
Fundraising efforts have been a point of emphasis with Finley, with the Wolves' annual giving increasing each of the last four years. He was named to the NCAA Division II Field Hockey committee last year and previously served on the regional advisory committee for women's golf, while also serving as the athletic director liaison to the South Atlantic Conference's men's and women's tennis coaches' committee and the ECAC Division II Wrestling League's coaches' committee.
During Finley's stint as Director of Athletics, Newberry has been a fixture in the postseason, with the football team earning a berth in the NCAA D-II Playoffs in two of the last three years and the women's basketball team edging the Trojans, whileclaiming the SAC Tournament title two seasons ago.
The 2013 campaign was a banner year for the Wolves, as the Scarlet and Grey volleyball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Southeast Regional, while the women's golf squad captured the league championship and the wrestling team earned the Super Region I Championship.
Finley was named an assistant wrestling coach at Newberry in 2005 and assumed the additional roles of athletic ticket manager and was later promoted to the director of tickets and promotions, while also serving as a special assistant to the assistant athletic director for internal operations. He was promoted to associate head wrestling coach in July, 2008, serving as director of recruiting and an expanded role for the nationally-ranked wrestling program. In February 2010, Finley was named assistant athletic director for business and was responsible for the coordination for all of the department's day-to-day business functions including budget reconciliation, purchasing requests and athletic department ticketing. He was also responsible for the coordination and game management of all home events.
A little more than a year later, Finley was promoted to associate athletic director for compliance and academic services, serving as the senior compliance administrator. He also had oversight over tickets and promotions, internal operations, and served as executive secretary with the Newberry College Lettermen's Club.
Finley was the founder of the Clemson club wrestling program, where he took on the role of director of operations as well as head coach and is an experienced wrestling official with previous experience officiating for both the South Carolina High School League and the NCAA. He wrestled for North Carolina State, where he was a member of the 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference championship team. He also had a successful high school career where he was a three-time state placer and an undefeated state champion at Hillcrest High School, where he was also named to the NHSCA All American Academic Team.
"My family and I are excited to join the Anderson University family," said Finley. "I am particularly looking forward to helping make a positive difference in the student-athlete experience and look forward to working with a great staff. There are many exciting programs at Anderson University and I could not be more excited to join a great team. I would like to thank Bill D'Andrea for this opportunity and I am excited to join his staff and get to work for an outstanding group of student-athletes and coaches."
Finley graduated with a bachelor's degree from Clemson in 2004, majoring in animal and veterinary sciences with minors in agricultural business and education. In 2008, Finley received his master of science in sports leadership from Duquesne.
Finley is slated to begin his tenure with the Black and Gold, Monday, Aug. 1.
