Coaching Staff

Matt Emmert

Head Swim Coach

Head Swim Coach | Assistant Athletic Director | RI Aquatic Hall of Fame Inductee

Matt Emmert has been the Head Coach of the Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving programs at Roger Williams University since 2012, where he emphasizes holistic development, teamwork, and the belief that a Positive Process Produces Performance. His leadership has helped countless athletes achieve success in and out of the pool, fostering personal growth and a lifelong love for the sport.

Under his guidance, the Hawks have achieved remarkable milestones, including coaching 170 NEISDA champions, 58 ECAC qualifiers, and multiple NCAA provisional and championship qualifiers. Matt’s commitment to balancing athletic performance with academic achievement is evident in his teams’ consistent recognition as Scholar All-American Teams.

Career Highlights:

• 7x NEISDA Coach of the Year
• 9 NEISDA Team Championships (Men’s & Women’s)
• 170 NEISDA Champions
• 58 ECAC Qualifiers
• 4 NCAA National Qualifiers & 11 Provisional Qualifiers
• 2 NCAA All-American Honorable Mentions



Prior to RWU, Matt served as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland, Texas Christian University, and the University of Rhode Island. He also leads Kingfish Rhode Island as Performance Director and is the founder of Ocean State Swim Camp, which provides technique, recruiting, and training camps to swimmers across the region.

An inductee into the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame, Matt takes pride in developing well-rounded student-athletes who excel both in and out of the water.

Outside of coaching, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife Jillian, daughters Brynn and Lyla, and their dog Boston.