This bio is now a part of a historical archive, the individual was on the staff from 2000-2015 and is no longer employed by Wilkes University.
Frank Matthews begins his 15th season as head coach of the Wilkes University softball program in 2015, boasting a 254-264 record (.490). The school's all-time winningest coach, Matthews has led the Lady Colonels to the postseason six times, including a Freedom Conference championship and a berth into the NCAA tournament in 2006.
Matthews has coached 44 all-conference performers in his 14 seasons, including four-time player of the year, pitcher Laurie Agresti (2004-07); and two-time player of the year, shortstop Gina Stefanelli (2008-09).
Stefanelli owns six career records at Wilkes, including hits and RBI; while Agresti is at the top of the charts in five categories, including wins, ERA and strikeouts.
In a six-year span from 2004-09, Matthews led the Lady Colonels to the postseason five times, earning at least 24 wins in four of those seasons, combining to go 140-96.
Four seasons ago, Matthews led the Lady Colonels to an 18-21 overall record, including a 10-6 conference mark. The team also saw four players named to the All-Freedom Conference first and second teams, with junior Gina Stefanelli being named the Freedom Conference Player of the Year.
In 2006, Matthews earned Freedom Conference Coach of the Year honors after leading Wilkes to an overall record of 28-15. The squad also captured the Freedom Conference championship and earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Championship field.
In 2004, he was named the Freedom Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Colonels to the playoffs. The 2005 squad also made a playoff appearance after posting an overall record of 27-13, while the 2007 squad finished as the conference runner-up and fashioned a 24-13 overall mark.
Matthews came to Wilkes after serving as an assistant coach at Division I Harvard University during the 2000 season. While at Harvard, Matthews helped lead the squad to just their second Ivy League championship in school history, and a berth in the NCAA Division I Championships, where they fell to eventual national champion Oklahoma.
Matthews, who taught for 30 years, 25 of those at Hanover Area High School, gained much of his experience at the high school level. He spent 11 years as the Athletic Director at Hanover Area, 11 years as the softball coach at Hanover Area, and also served as both an assistant football coach and weightlifting coach at the school.
While at Hanover Area he guided the Hawkeyes to five consecutive Wyoming Valley Conference championships and two PIAA District 2 titles. He was named the conference's Coach of the Year in both 1995 and 1996. Eight of Matthews' former players went on to play at the Division I level, with many more playing at the Division II and III ranks.
Matthews also has an extensive playing career on the softball diamond. He played on six ASA State Championship teams. Five times his teams advanced to the ASA National Tournament, where on three occassions they earned top twelve finishes. A former ASA All-American, Matthews was inducted into the Pennsylvania ASA Hall of Fame in 1996 after finishing his career with more than 1,400 home runs.
Matthews is a 1969 graduate of Bloomsburg State College with a B.S. in Elementary Education. He and his wife Paula are the parents of two children, Darel and Jillian.
