Associate Director of Sport Performance
Matthew Herhal has been a strength and conditioning coach for 20yrs.
Herhal worked at Columbia University for 16yrs, lastly working with the Lions’ women’s basketball, baseball, men’s and women’s golf and men’s swimming and diving teams. He first arrived in Morningside Heights as Columbia’s Head Football Strength Coach in 2006, a position he held for six years before being named Associate Director of Sport Performance. During his tenure, Herhal worked with numerous other Columbia teams including; men’s and women’s soccer, softball, field hockey and women’s lacrosse.
He arrived at Columbia following two years (2004-06) as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater, the University of Connecticut. At UConn, he learned under the legendary Jerry Martin and served as the primary strength and conditioning coach for the Huskies’ baseball, field hockey and men’s ice hockey teams, whiles assisting with UConn’s football and men’s and women’s track and field squads.
Prior to returning to UConn, Herhal served as a strength and conditioning coach and fitness center coordinator at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, where he primarily worked with the Hawks’ men’s basketball team, a team that reached the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight in 2004. He concurrently worked as a sports performance coach at Summit Sports Training Center in Bryn Mawr, Pa. and as an assistant strength coach with the Reading Royals of the East Coast Hockey League.
A four-year member of UConn’s ice hockey team that won the 2000 MAAC Championship. As a defenseman with the Huskies, Herhal saw action in 100 career games and accumulated 54 points, 25 goals and 29 assists. He continued his playing career by going on to play professional hockey with the Knoxville Speed (UHL), Reading Royals (ECHL) and York Icecats (NEHL).
Herhal graduated in 2002 from Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in science exercise physiology. He returned to Storrs as a GA, to complete coursework toward a master’s degree in kinesiology.
A Pottstown, Pa. native, Herhal is a certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCCa) and United States Weightlifting (USAW).
Bullet points
• Attended University of Connecticut and had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best; the late great Jerry Martin, Chris West, Andrea Hudy, Teena Murray and others.
• Lucky enough to be part of 15+ conference championships across 3 schools and multiple sports.
• Blessed to have such a supportive and loving family in my wife Lindsay and son Everett, who understand the time and commitment this profession requires.
