Baseball
Vanderburg, Matt
Matt Vanderburg
- Title:
- Head Baseball Coach
- Email:
- matthew.vanderburg@sfasu.edu
- Phone:
- (405) 641-0210
Matt Vanderburg begins his first season at the helm of the Lumberjacks baseball program.
Vanderburg comes to SFA from West Texas A&M where he built the Buffaloes into a national contender at the NCAA Division II level. During his 16 years at WTAMU, Vanderburg accumulated an overall record of 516-293 (.638) and led the Buffaloes to three Lone Star Conference Championships (2015, 2018, 2021) along with 10 trips to the NCAA Postseason.
The 2024 season marked his fourth consecutive 30+ win season and his 14th overall season with 30 or more wins. Vanderburg and the Buffs were ranked as high as third in the nation during the 2024 campaign and advanced to the South-Central Regional Finals in Grand Junction, Colorado. Nine players claimed all-conference honors with Kyle Micklus being named the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Newcomer of the Year, as well as Dylan Fesperman earning All-American honors by the NCBWA and D2CCA.
In 2023 the Buffaloes finished with a 30-22 record overall and were 28-20 in LSC play. They also advanced to their ninth LSC Tournament. Adam Becker earned NCBWA and D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year while also picking up All-American honors.
The 2022 season saw WTAMU advance to their eighth straight NCAA Division II Postseason and finished their campaign with a 39-19 overall record. Vanderburg and the Buffs recorded one of the best offensive performances in program history as they hit .333 as a team with 137 doubles, 13 triples and a school-record 75 homeruns to drive in 465 RBI with a slugging percentage of .532. Adam Becker won Lone Star Conference Player of the Year with his 22 doubles and 22 homeruns collecting 92 RBIs. He also claimed All-American honors alongside his teammate Ryan Johnson.
2021 saw the Buffaloes claim their third Lone Star Confernce Championship with a 28-4 record in league play and advancing to their seventh straight NCAA Tournament. The Buffs also made an appearance in the program’s first ever Regional Finals with an overall record of 34-9. WTAMU had 12 players earn All-LSC honors with six also earning All-Region honors and two players earning Honorable Mention NCBWA All-Americans.
The Buffs got off to a hot start in 2020 as they started the season ranked 15th nationally with a 17-6 overall record. The rest of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019 Vanderburg led the Buffs to an overall record of 41-12 to set a new program record for victories in a single season as WTAMU claimed their third LSC Conference Tournament Title in the last four years while also making an appearance in the NCAA Division II Baseball Postseason for the sixth straight year. The 2019 season also saw Joe Corbett named the Division II National Pitcher of the Year by the D2CCA and NCBWA while he also became the highest draft pick in LSC history as he was taken in the 10th round (259th Overall) by the Texas Rangers. Two players also earned All-American honors. The Buffaloes also finished the season with 566 strikeouts on the mound setting a new single-season Lone Star Conference record.
In 2018 Vanderburg and the Buffs capped off the season hosting the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament at Wilder Park in Canyon, Texas. The Buffs won 40 games for the first time in program history as they finished the season with a 40-14 overall record, claiming their second LSC Conference Title with a conference record of 20-4. Vanderburg and staff earned LSC Coaching Staff of the Year and while Luis Amaro became the third player in history to earn LSC Player of the Year honors. Vanderburg was also named the NCBWA South Central Region Coach of the Year for the first time in his career.
The 2017 season saw Vanderburg and the Buffs win their second straight Lone Star Conference Tournament Title with a 3-0 record and a pair of wins over top-seeded Angelo State in San Angelo. West Texas A&M finished the season with a 36-18 overall record and a 13-9 record in LSC play. The Buffs also earned an automatic berth in the program’s fourth straight NCAA South Central Regional. The Buffaloes pitching staff led the nation in strikeouts per nine innings at 11.0 and Marshall Kasowski led the nation in strikeouts with a school-record 165. Kasowski earned South Central Region Pitcher of the Year honors and was a multiple All-American nominee. He was also drafted 400th overall in the 13th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers as the highest Buff ever drafted. His teammate Joshua Payne was drafted in the 22nd round by the New York Mets marking the first time two Buffs were drafted in the same season under Vanderburg.
In 2016, the Buffs finished 36-20 and won their first Lone Star Conference Tournament title earning an automatic berth in the NCAA South Central Regional. Under the leadership of Vanderburg, Austin Moore was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 26th round. Moore also earned first team all-conference honors, all-tournament honors and was a two-time all-region selection.
2015 saw the Buffs post a school-best 23-12 record in Lone Star Conference play and saw closer Paul Lujan earn multiple All-American honors as well as NCBWA Firs Team All-American and Daktronics Honorable Mention.
In 2014, Vanderburg guided the Buffs to a 37-21 overall record which was a school record and a berth in the program’s first NCAA South Central Regional. The Buffs went 2-2 in the reginonal with wins over Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville. Their 21-14 record in conference play also earned them the number 2 see in the LSC Championship and finished as the conference tournament runner-up which was a program first. The Buffs also finished the season 15th nationally in batting average at .325 and were third nationally in hits with 669.
In 2013 the Buffs narrowly missed the NCAA tournament with a 30-21 reocrd and a 15-13 mark in conference play. It was the second 30-win season for the Buffs under Vanderburg.
Vanderburg led the Buffs to a 29-19 record in 2012 and a fourth-place finish in the Long Star Conference. The pitching staff also set the school-record for lowest ERA and the lowest opponent batting average as well as the fewest walks per nine allowed. 2012 also saw the fewest hits and runs allowed.
Vanderburg’s third season saw the Buffs post a 30-19 record which was the fourth best record in school history and 17-16 in conference play. This was the Buffs first 30-win season under Vanderburg.
In his second season Vanderburg posted a 23-20 overall mark finished seventh play in the Lone Star Conference. The Buffs lost 22 games to cancellations due to continuous winter storms in the area.
In his first season at the helm in 2009, Vanderburg led the Buffs to a 20-33 overall record with a 13-29 mark in the Lone Star Conference. The Buffs won the first four games of the season marking the best start to a season in program history to that point.
Vanderburg was named the Head Coach of West Texas A&M on May 9, 2008.
During his final season at Clarendon Junior College in 2008, Vanderburg led the Bulldogs to a 40-16 overall record and a trip to the NJCCA playoffs.
Vanderburg was the Head Coach at Clarendon Junior College from 2006-08 while spending the 2005n season as an assistant coach.
He began his coaching career working for his former high school coach Shannon Enfield at the Norman Majors American Legion team, a premier summer league team located in Oklahoma. Vanderburg graduated from Norman North High School and during his prep playing career he set numerous hitting record, some of which still stand today.
Matt is a native of Norman, Oklahoma and holds his Bachelor’s of Science in health and physical education from Northwestern Oklahoma State and a Master’s degree in health and physical education from Emporia State. He and his wife Kathryn are the parents of two children Macy and Mattux.
The Vanderburg File:
Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma
College: Northwestern Oklahoma State (2003); Emporia State (2005)
Playing Experience: Northwestern Oklahoma State (Four-Time All-Conference selection and helped bring NWOSU into national spotlight)
Family: Kathryn (Wife), Macy (daughter) and Mattux (son)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2024-Present – SFA | Head Coach
2009-2024: West Texas A&M | Head Coach
2006-2008: Clarendon College | Assistant Coach/Head coach
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2 – 40-Win Seasons at West Texas A&M
1 – NCBWA South Central Region Coach of the Year Award
3 – Lone Star Conference Regular Season Titles (2015, 2018, 2021)
3 – Lone Star Conference Tournament Championships (2016, 2017, 2019)
12 – Lone Star Conference Tournament Appearances
9 – NCAA Tournament Appearances
12 – 30-Win Seasons at West Texas A&M
14 – All-Americans
53 – All-Region Honorees
91 – All-Conference Selections
515 – Victories at West Texas A&M (Program Record)
614 – Career Wins
Vanderburg comes to SFA from West Texas A&M where he built the Buffaloes into a national contender at the NCAA Division II level. During his 16 years at WTAMU, Vanderburg accumulated an overall record of 516-293 (.638) and led the Buffaloes to three Lone Star Conference Championships (2015, 2018, 2021) along with 10 trips to the NCAA Postseason.
The 2024 season marked his fourth consecutive 30+ win season and his 14th overall season with 30 or more wins. Vanderburg and the Buffs were ranked as high as third in the nation during the 2024 campaign and advanced to the South-Central Regional Finals in Grand Junction, Colorado. Nine players claimed all-conference honors with Kyle Micklus being named the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Newcomer of the Year, as well as Dylan Fesperman earning All-American honors by the NCBWA and D2CCA.
In 2023 the Buffaloes finished with a 30-22 record overall and were 28-20 in LSC play. They also advanced to their ninth LSC Tournament. Adam Becker earned NCBWA and D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year while also picking up All-American honors.
The 2022 season saw WTAMU advance to their eighth straight NCAA Division II Postseason and finished their campaign with a 39-19 overall record. Vanderburg and the Buffs recorded one of the best offensive performances in program history as they hit .333 as a team with 137 doubles, 13 triples and a school-record 75 homeruns to drive in 465 RBI with a slugging percentage of .532. Adam Becker won Lone Star Conference Player of the Year with his 22 doubles and 22 homeruns collecting 92 RBIs. He also claimed All-American honors alongside his teammate Ryan Johnson.
2021 saw the Buffaloes claim their third Lone Star Confernce Championship with a 28-4 record in league play and advancing to their seventh straight NCAA Tournament. The Buffs also made an appearance in the program’s first ever Regional Finals with an overall record of 34-9. WTAMU had 12 players earn All-LSC honors with six also earning All-Region honors and two players earning Honorable Mention NCBWA All-Americans.
The Buffs got off to a hot start in 2020 as they started the season ranked 15th nationally with a 17-6 overall record. The rest of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019 Vanderburg led the Buffs to an overall record of 41-12 to set a new program record for victories in a single season as WTAMU claimed their third LSC Conference Tournament Title in the last four years while also making an appearance in the NCAA Division II Baseball Postseason for the sixth straight year. The 2019 season also saw Joe Corbett named the Division II National Pitcher of the Year by the D2CCA and NCBWA while he also became the highest draft pick in LSC history as he was taken in the 10th round (259th Overall) by the Texas Rangers. Two players also earned All-American honors. The Buffaloes also finished the season with 566 strikeouts on the mound setting a new single-season Lone Star Conference record.
In 2018 Vanderburg and the Buffs capped off the season hosting the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament at Wilder Park in Canyon, Texas. The Buffs won 40 games for the first time in program history as they finished the season with a 40-14 overall record, claiming their second LSC Conference Title with a conference record of 20-4. Vanderburg and staff earned LSC Coaching Staff of the Year and while Luis Amaro became the third player in history to earn LSC Player of the Year honors. Vanderburg was also named the NCBWA South Central Region Coach of the Year for the first time in his career.
The 2017 season saw Vanderburg and the Buffs win their second straight Lone Star Conference Tournament Title with a 3-0 record and a pair of wins over top-seeded Angelo State in San Angelo. West Texas A&M finished the season with a 36-18 overall record and a 13-9 record in LSC play. The Buffs also earned an automatic berth in the program’s fourth straight NCAA South Central Regional. The Buffaloes pitching staff led the nation in strikeouts per nine innings at 11.0 and Marshall Kasowski led the nation in strikeouts with a school-record 165. Kasowski earned South Central Region Pitcher of the Year honors and was a multiple All-American nominee. He was also drafted 400th overall in the 13th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers as the highest Buff ever drafted. His teammate Joshua Payne was drafted in the 22nd round by the New York Mets marking the first time two Buffs were drafted in the same season under Vanderburg.
In 2016, the Buffs finished 36-20 and won their first Lone Star Conference Tournament title earning an automatic berth in the NCAA South Central Regional. Under the leadership of Vanderburg, Austin Moore was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 26th round. Moore also earned first team all-conference honors, all-tournament honors and was a two-time all-region selection.
2015 saw the Buffs post a school-best 23-12 record in Lone Star Conference play and saw closer Paul Lujan earn multiple All-American honors as well as NCBWA Firs Team All-American and Daktronics Honorable Mention.
In 2014, Vanderburg guided the Buffs to a 37-21 overall record which was a school record and a berth in the program’s first NCAA South Central Regional. The Buffs went 2-2 in the reginonal with wins over Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville. Their 21-14 record in conference play also earned them the number 2 see in the LSC Championship and finished as the conference tournament runner-up which was a program first. The Buffs also finished the season 15th nationally in batting average at .325 and were third nationally in hits with 669.
In 2013 the Buffs narrowly missed the NCAA tournament with a 30-21 reocrd and a 15-13 mark in conference play. It was the second 30-win season for the Buffs under Vanderburg.
Vanderburg led the Buffs to a 29-19 record in 2012 and a fourth-place finish in the Long Star Conference. The pitching staff also set the school-record for lowest ERA and the lowest opponent batting average as well as the fewest walks per nine allowed. 2012 also saw the fewest hits and runs allowed.
Vanderburg’s third season saw the Buffs post a 30-19 record which was the fourth best record in school history and 17-16 in conference play. This was the Buffs first 30-win season under Vanderburg.
In his second season Vanderburg posted a 23-20 overall mark finished seventh play in the Lone Star Conference. The Buffs lost 22 games to cancellations due to continuous winter storms in the area.
In his first season at the helm in 2009, Vanderburg led the Buffs to a 20-33 overall record with a 13-29 mark in the Lone Star Conference. The Buffs won the first four games of the season marking the best start to a season in program history to that point.
Vanderburg was named the Head Coach of West Texas A&M on May 9, 2008.
During his final season at Clarendon Junior College in 2008, Vanderburg led the Bulldogs to a 40-16 overall record and a trip to the NJCCA playoffs.
Vanderburg was the Head Coach at Clarendon Junior College from 2006-08 while spending the 2005n season as an assistant coach.
He began his coaching career working for his former high school coach Shannon Enfield at the Norman Majors American Legion team, a premier summer league team located in Oklahoma. Vanderburg graduated from Norman North High School and during his prep playing career he set numerous hitting record, some of which still stand today.
Matt is a native of Norman, Oklahoma and holds his Bachelor’s of Science in health and physical education from Northwestern Oklahoma State and a Master’s degree in health and physical education from Emporia State. He and his wife Kathryn are the parents of two children Macy and Mattux.
The Vanderburg File:
Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma
College: Northwestern Oklahoma State (2003); Emporia State (2005)
Playing Experience: Northwestern Oklahoma State (Four-Time All-Conference selection and helped bring NWOSU into national spotlight)
Family: Kathryn (Wife), Macy (daughter) and Mattux (son)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2024-Present – SFA | Head Coach
2009-2024: West Texas A&M | Head Coach
2006-2008: Clarendon College | Assistant Coach/Head coach
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2 – 40-Win Seasons at West Texas A&M
1 – NCBWA South Central Region Coach of the Year Award
3 – Lone Star Conference Regular Season Titles (2015, 2018, 2021)
3 – Lone Star Conference Tournament Championships (2016, 2017, 2019)
12 – Lone Star Conference Tournament Appearances
9 – NCAA Tournament Appearances
12 – 30-Win Seasons at West Texas A&M
14 – All-Americans
53 – All-Region Honorees
91 – All-Conference Selections
515 – Victories at West Texas A&M (Program Record)
614 – Career Wins
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