Texas Tech Assistant Matt Braeuer Named Head Coach at SFA

LUBBOCK, TX – Texas Tech assistant basketball coach Matt Braeuer has been named the new head coach at Stephen F. Austin but will remain with the No. 9 Red Raiders for the remainder of the season, the program announced Friday.

Braeuer, in his second season with Texas Tech, has played a key role in the Red Raiders’ success, helping guide the team to a 23-7 record. His hiring at SFA was made official Friday afternoon.

“I’m thrilled for Matt, Katie, and their family for the opportunity to be a head coach at such a great university,” Head Coach Grant McCasland said. “Matt has been a vital part of our success in all areas of the program. He’s ready for this, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he will win and lead their program the right way. Matt has an elite feel for the game of basketball, but what separates him is the genuine relationships he builds to help everyone around him get better through humility and hard work. Matt’s an awesome husband, father, and coach. He’s got it all.”

In his first season with Texas Tech, Braeuer helped lead the Red Raiders to the 2024 NCAA Tournament and a 23-win season. Tech finished tied for third in the Big 12 standings and reached the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship.

Before arriving in Lubbock, Braeuer spent five seasons as an assistant at North Texas under McCasland. During his tenure, UNT compiled a 115-47 record, won back-to-back Conference USA championships (2020, 2021), and claimed the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory in 2021 with an upset over Purdue. The Mean Green also won a program-record 31 games in 2022-23, capping the season with an NIT championship win over UAB.

A Belton, Texas, native, Braeuer was a three-year starting point guard at Wichita State from 2004-08. He ranks in the program’s top 15 all-time in career three-pointers made (130) and assists (308) while helping the Shockers reach the Sweet 16 and earn a top-10 national ranking.

Braeuer began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Wichita State before serving at Midland College (2010-11), where he helped lead the team to the NJCAA Division I national championship game. He later worked as the video coordinator at Maryland under Mark Turgeon and spent three seasons at Sam Houston (2013-16), where he helped guide the program to consecutive Southland Conference tournament championship game appearances and back-to-back 24-plus win seasons.

Braeuer also spent two seasons at the College of Charleston before joining North Texas, helping the Cougars to consecutive 25-win campaigns and Colonial Athletic Association regular-season and tournament titles.

As a high school player at Belton, he was named Texas Class 5A First Team All-State and earned District 13-5A MVP honors.