Eastern Kentucky University Athletics

Matt Ariza, who is coming off a five-year playing career with Piedmont University and Lamar University, joined the EKU program as its assistant coach in the summer of 2023.
 
"I'm super excited for Matt to join our staff and get started as an assistant coach," said head coach Justin Tereshko. "He played on a very successful and well coached team in college. He understands what it takes to be successful, and I believe our student-athletes will benefit from his guidance on and off the course."
 
Ariza joins the EKU coaching staff after spending the last two seasons on the Piedmont University men's golf team. 
 
During his time in Demorest, Ga., Ariza competed in 28 rounds over 13 events for the Lions, including an appearance in the 2023 NCAA DIII Championship where he finished 51st out of 221 golfers. His play helped Piedmont to a second-place team finish in Nicholasville, Ky. at the Champion Trace Course at Keene Run. He also had a fifth-place finish in the 2023 CCS Conference Tournament.
 
Ariza was named to the Collegiate Conference of the South Second Team in 2023 and was also tabbed as the CCS Male Golfer of the Week on Oct. 10, 2022.
 
"I'm extremely excited to join Coach Tereshko's staff at Eastern Kentucky University," said Ariza. "I believe that this team has the ability to continuously improve and make a statement for themselves not only in the ASUN Conference, but nationally as well."
 
Prior to Piedmont, Ariza spent three years with Lamar University from 2018-2021 as the team had two runner-up appearances in the Southland Conference Tournament.
 
Ariza, a native of Naples, Fla., graduated from Piedmont in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in business management.