Bringing more than 100 head coaching victories to the Missouri men’s basketball program, Matt Lottich is joining the Tigers staff as special assistant to the head coach, announced on Wednesday.
Lottich compiled 108 wins in seven years leading the Valparaiso program from 2016 to 2023, ranking third in school history for victories. During his tenure, the Beacons won one regular-season conference championship, while he also helped lead Valpo to its first Missouri Valley Conference Championship game in any sport in 2020.
In 10 years overall as a head and assistant coach, Lottich won 184 games on the sideline with three regular-season championships, one conference tournament title and five invitations to postseason tournaments.
“I couldn’t be more excited to add Coach Lottich to our staff,” said Whitten Family Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dennis Gates. “I have known Matt for a number of years and his winning experience as a head coach will no doubt elevate Mizzou. He had success leading a program in both the Missouri Valley Conference and Horizon League and his extensive knowledge of the game will be a tremendous asset to our staff and team. He fits perfectly with what we’re looking to achieve at Mizzou.”
“I’ve known Coach Gates most of my entire life and the one thing that I’ve always known about him is he is a man of high character,” Lottich said. “As I was transitioning out of being a head coach, I wanted to work with someone with integrity and knowledge of the game. I think Coach Gates fits that mold perfectly. He is a fantastic coach, a fantastic recruiter and excels in every aspect that it takes to run a program. Again, I would put his character above all of those things. I’m excited to get to work with him and the entire staff and at a special place like Mizzou.”
After a successful three-year run as an assistant coach at Valparaiso from 2013 to 2016, Lottich had immediate success as the school’s head coach. He led the Beacons to 24 victories during the 2016-17 campaign and capped the season with a Horizon League regular-season championship. Along the way, Valpo earned the school’s third-ever victory over a nationally-ranked school in Rhode Island as well as neutral-site triumphs over Alabama and BYU to capture the MGM Grand Main Event.
Lottich then guided the Beacons through a transition to the Missouri Valley Conference, highlighted by a magical run to the 2020 Arch Madness Championship game. Valparaiso became the first team in Valley history to win three games to advance to the title contest after playing the opening round of the championship.
During his seven seasons leading the Beacons, Lottich coached one All-American, one conference Player of the Year, six all-conference honorees – including three first-team selections – two All-Newcomer student-athletes, four All-Freshman recipients, four All-Defensive Team honorees and four Most Improved Team selections.
Lottich brought nearly a decade of professional-playing experience to Valparaiso. He spent eight years playing in Japan for the Oita Heat Devils and the Osaka Evessa, earning All-Star recognition four times. He also played one season in Germany in the Bundesliga for the Dusseldorf Giants, one year in New Zealand in the NBL for the Harbor Heat and was a member of the New Jersey Nets’ summer league team in 2004.
Lottich played collegiately at Stanford University from 2000 to 2004, helping the Cardinal to four NCAA Tournaments, including two bids as a No. 1 seed. As a senior, he helped lead the Cardinal to the Pac-10 title, while earning NABC All-Star plaudits, awarded to the Top 15 seniors in college basketball. He was also a member of the Wooden Award midseason watch list and was an honorable-mention All Pac-10 selection. Lottich was a member of the program’s conference championship squad as a freshman in 2000-2001 and still ranks among Stanford’s single-season and career leaders in 3-pointers made.
Additionally, Mizzou announced title changes for four additional staff members. Ryan Sharbaugh will serve as the team’s defensive coordinator, Matt Cline is the Tigers’ offensive coordinator, Chase Goldstein has been named the Chief of Staff / Director of Basketball Operations and Dalon King will serve as the coordinator of scouting and analytics.
