CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah University Director of Athletics Myndee Kay Larsen has announced the hiring of Matt Lisle as the next head coach of the Thunderbirds softball program.
Lisle brings more than 23 years of collegiate and professional coaching experience to Cedar City, including stops in the Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, Mountain West and Major League Baseball. Widely regarded as one of the nation's premier offensive minds, Lisle has built a reputation for improving programs through player development, innovative recruiting strategies, and a data-driven approach to the game.
"We are thrilled to welcome Matt Lisle to the Thunderbirds family," said Larsen. "Matt has consistently elevated every program he has been a part of, and his passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the field aligns perfectly with our vision for Southern Utah Athletics. As we begin this new era in the Big Sky Conference, we are confident Matt is the right leader to build a championship-caliber softball program."
Most recently, Lisle served as a consultant before joining the University of Utah's coaching staff for the 2026 season. Working with the Utes' offense, scouting, recruiting, and game-planning, he helped the program set school records in slugging percentage (.496) and on-base percentage (.497) while competing in the Big 12 Conference.
Before Utah, Lisle spent two seasons at Oregon State as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. During his tenure, he orchestrated a complete roster rebuild following conference realignment, bringing in 17 transfer portal additions, overseeing offensive development, and serving as the program's NIL liaison. The Beavers recorded their highest slugging percentage since their 2022 Women's College World Series team, their best on-base percentage since 2018, increased run production by 40 percent, and posted their best road winning percentage in more than a decade.
Lisle's coaching résumé also includes assistant coaching positions at Fresno State, South Carolina, Santa Clara, CSU East Bay, and Oregon, where he was part of a Pac-12 Championship staff. At South Carolina, he helped lead the Gamecocks to 49 wins and a Top-10 national ranking. He earned NFCA Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors after the team shattered multiple offensive records.
Beyond collegiate softball, Lisle worked with the Chicago White Sox organization as a Hitting Strategist in Analytics and Player Development, where he helped develop the organization's hitter evaluation system using advanced analytics and technology. He also enjoyed tremendous success as head baseball coach at Los Medanos College, leading the Mustangs to a school-record 33 wins and earning Bay Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors.
"I am incredibly grateful to Myndee Kay Larsen and President Mindy Benson for the opportunity to lead Thunderbirds softball, and for the trust they have placed in me and my family," Lisle said. "This is a special moment for Southern Utah, a new conference, a new ballpark, and a roster of young women I cannot wait to pour into. We are going to build a program this community is proud of, one that competes fearlessly and develops the whole player. Dream big, love the process."
Throughout his career, Lisle has become one of the most influential voices in softball instruction. He is the founder of The Hitting Vault, the sport's largest online platform for hitting instruction, and has amassed more than 3 million followers across social media. He is also the author of the best-selling coaching book Dear Coach.
Lisle has earned four Conference Coach of the Year honors across softball and baseball during his coaching career and is recognized nationally for his expertise in offensive development, recruiting, and player performance.
He becomes the eighth head coach in Southern Utah softball history and will immediately begin preparing the Thunderbirds for their inaugural season back in the Big Sky Conference.
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