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Matthew Distler

 
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Distler began assisting with the Hawks men's lacrosse program spring of 2021.

Matt Distler took over the Hawks men's and women's swimming programs during the 2019-20 season, and began his first year as the head coach of both programs beginning fall of 2020.

Distler has been an active member of the swimming community for more than 15 years as an athlete, lifeguard and coach. A graduate of Glens Falls High School, Distler achieved All-American Consideration in both the 50 and 100 freestyle in 2010. Distler attended SUNY Cortland from 2010-2013, where he was a SUNYAC Champion in the 200 freestyle, and the 200 and 800 freestyle relays in 2011. In his time at Cortland, Matt studied physical education and psychology and volunteered as a coach for the University's C.A.S.T. program (Cortland Adaptive Swim Team). Distler graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from SUNY New Paltz in 2015.

As a swimmer at New Paltz, Distler was named team captain and MVP in his lone season with the Hawks. In his time in New Paltz, he was the Shawangunk Master's swim team assistant coach in 2014-2015, and then head coach in 2015-2016.

Additionally, Distler was an assistant coach for the New Paltz Hawks Swim Club from 2014-2016. He worked as an assistant coach for the Glens Falls Varsity Swimming teams, and the Glens Falls YMCA Gators, while working on his second degree in History from 2016-2018. Distler then became the assistant coach for the SUNY New Paltz Hawks, and was a part of a staff that produced several pool records and a school record.

Distler became the head coach in 2020 and led the team to a 3rd/4th(W/M) place conference finish. As a coach, Distler strives to instill values that lead to the development of healthy, responsible, caring, driven and dedicated student athletes in and outside of the pool. The lessons imparted by sports develop our future leaders, and it is Matt's goal to inspire the next generation through swimming.