Matt Sherman - Men's Rugby Head Coach - Men's Rugby Coaches

Matt Sherman

Title:
Men's Rugby Head Coach
Email:
matthew.sherman@westpoint.edu
Phone:
0174

Matt Sherman enters his 12th season as Head Coach of Army West Point Men’s Rugby in 2026-27. Sherman has led the Black Knights to a 90-42-2 record in 15s competition, a 40-14-1 Rugby East Conference record, and a 27-22 record in collegiate 7s competition.

Under Sherman’s leadership, Army has advanced to 11 postseason appearances, captured two Rugby East Championships, and won the program’s first-ever D1A National Championship in 2022 while establishing itself among the nation’s elite collegiate rugby programs.

Army student-athletes under Sherman’s leadership have earned numerous All-America and Rugby East All-Conference honors, produced the 2022 Rudy Scholz Award winner as the nation’s top collegiate rugby player, generated multiple Rudy Scholz Award nominees and finalists, and filled leadership positions throughout the United States Corps of Cadets. Beyond the rugby field, Army ruggers have gone on to serve with distinction as officers in the United States Army, assuming demanding leadership responsibilities around the world. Multiple former Black Knights have advanced to the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP).

The 2025-26 season marked Army’s second consecutive appearance in the CRAA D1A National Quarterfinals. The Black Knights finished 10-4 overall, won the inaugural Cannon Cup against Canadian rival Guelph, and defeated Air Force 52-7. All four of Army’s losses came against teams that finished the season ranked No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 nationally, further demonstrating the program’s place among the country’s elite.

As a player, Sherman was a three-time All-American and team captain at the University of California, helping lead the Golden Bears to four national championships while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies in 2003.

He went on to represent the United States Men’s National Team from 2003-05, earning seven international caps, including appearances against Argentina, England, and France, and was a member of the United States squad at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

During his international playing career, Sherman attended the University of Oxford, where he earned a master’s degree in history.

Sherman began his coaching career while still a student-athlete at California, working with Piedmont High School. While pursuing graduate studies at Oxford, he coached the Oxford University Women’s Rugby Club and helped lead the program to victory over Cambridge in the historic Varsity Match.

Returning to California, Sherman served as an assistant coach during the Bears’ 2007 and 2008 national championship seasons before moving to San Diego State, where he served first as an assistant coach and then as head coach. During his two seasons with the Aztecs, the program advanced to both a national semifinal and national quarterfinal appearance.

From 2009-11, Sherman served as an assistant coach with the United States Men’s National Team, coaching the backs and helping guide the Eagles during the 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign.

Before arriving at West Point, Sherman spent four years as Director of Rugby at Stanford University, overseeing all aspects of the men’s and women’s rugby programs, including coaching, staffing, recruiting, administration, scheduling, and fundraising. During his tenure, the Stanford men’s program reached the national quarterfinals twice, while the women’s program advanced to the national semifinals on multiple occasions.

Sherman also served as Head Coach of the USA Men’s Collegiate All-Americans from 2012-14, helping develop many future Eagles players.

2025-26 (10-4)