Niagara University names Spatafora head coach

Matt Spatafora (Scarborough, Ont.) has been named head coach of the Niagara Purple Eagles.

June 28, 2024

Official Niagara University Athletics News Release

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – Niagara University Associate Vice President for Athletics Simon Gray has announced the hiring of Matt Spatafora as the next head coach of Niagara Baseball.

Spatafora becomes the 22nd head coach in program history.

"Coach Spatafora is an elite recruiter who has been an integral part of Niagara Baseball's unprecedented success in recent years," said Gray. "His knowledge of the game is impressive, but most importantly, I have respected his development of student-athletes on the diamond and in life. Coach Spatafora will continue the standard of excellence for this proud program."

Spatafora has spent the past 12 seasons as an assistant coach for the Purple Eagles, serving as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator and helping the Purple and White reach the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) postseason in five of his 12 seasons, including the 2024 MAAC Championship.

Since he joined the staff in 2012, Spatafora has coached and recruited six MLB draft selections, including Wynton Bernard (San Diego Padres, 35th round, 2012), Jordan Schwartz (Oakland A's, fourth round, 2014), Daniel Procopio (Toronto, Ont., ,Los Angeles Angels, 10th round, 2017), Tanner Kirwer (Sherwood Park, Alta., Toronto Blue Jays, 20th round, 2017), Greg Cullen (Atlanta Braves, 15th round, 2018) and Matthew Brash (Kingston, Ont., San Diego Padres, fourth round, 2019).

Niagara baseball has also developed deep recruiting roots in Canada during Spatafora's tenure as the Scarborough, Ont., native has been responsible for recruiting over 30 Canadian-born players to the program over the last 12 years, including Brash, Procopio, and Kirwer.

"I am incredibly honoured and excited to be named head coach of the Niagara University Baseball program," commented Spatafora. "I look forward to leading our young men as we strive for excellence on and off the field. I want to thank Father Maher and Simon Gray for this fantastic opportunity as we look to build on the current foundation of our historic program."

As assistant coach Spatafora helped Niagara reach its first-ever NCAA Regional in Stillwater, Okla., in 2024 after posting a program-record 38 wins and its first MAAC Regular Season and Championship titles. As a team, Niagara batted .305 with 71 home runs, 104 doubles, 458 runs, and 421 RBIs while slugging .476 and posting an on-base percentage of .408, all of which were program bests during his 12 years on staff.

Before becoming a coach, Spatafora played collegiate baseball at Texarkana College. From 2000 to 2002, he helped lead the Bulldogs to two conference championships, one regional championship, and the Junior College World Series, while receiving All-Conference honours both seasons.

Spatafora played for the Arkansas Little Rock Trojans in 2003 and 2004 where he was named All-League during his senior season.

The Department of Athletics will hold an introductory event for Coach Spatafora later this summer.