Working under the interim tag since October, on Wednesday Brescia University’s Matt Karn was named the head coach of the men’s basketball team.
“Matt is a great guy to work with. He is kind, intelligent, easygoing, and loves the game of basketball,” Brescia Sports Information Director Jaylin Tidwell said. “Karn wants to make the program better than how he came into it.”
Shortly after trouncing Indiana University Columbus 107-68, Athletic Director, Mark Perdu made the announcement to Karn and his team in the locker room.
“It was a pretty amazing day and a pretty amazing feeling to have that huge of a win and then get mobbed by all of the players,” Karn said. “They were so excited about removing the interim tag. It has been a whirlwind since then, even though we have to keep pushing on and finish out the season strong.”
Earlier in the season, the Karn guided the Bearcats to a 79-76 win over Rio Grande, who at the time was ranked 25th in the nation – their first ranked win in eight seasons. On the cusp of a conference tournament appearance, Brescia is currently fourth in the west division of the River States Conference.
An Ohio County alumnus, Karn rallied the Eagles to a 3rd region title in 2005 and was later named a junior college All-American. Afterward, he transferred and played three seasons at the University of Nebraska. He played professionally including a two-year stint with the Kentucky Mavericks in the Premier Basketball League before transitioning into coaching.
Karn spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Brescia before leaving for the NBA in scouting, analytics, and player development.
Now back in his stomping grounds, he wants to develop the local talent and use it to build his team’s foundation.
“It was part of the reasons I moved back from Cleveland,” Karn said. “It was so exciting to return back because I had so many ties and local connections. I thought I could really build the program up if I was given the keys to it and now a lot of that has been freed up. I have played in the third region for Ohio County and in the state and I know how much Kentucky kids get overlooked. Those are the guys I want to build a program around.”
Karn has built his current coaching staff around local ties. Assistant coach Trace Young played for Apollo High School before playing D1 and later in the Indiana Pacers organization.
Karn has his eyes on a conference tournament appearance but also wants to create the culture and adding to the culture moving forward.
“It’s about building the right culture, getting the right guys in here, and finding the right talent,” Karn said. “We need to develop these guys into young men and that teaches them discipline in how things should be in the classroom and on the court. That will help develop them as they get older.”
