Bio

Red River Athletic Conference Regular Season Championships - 2021
Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Championships - 2020, 2021
NAIA Tournament Appearances - 2020, 2021

Matthew Strickland is entering his fourth season as the Head Coach of the Women’s Basketball program. In his third season, he led LSUS to an overall record of 17-13 and a RRAC Tournament runner up finish. Strickland Coached four All-Conference selections in DeAuja Thompson, Kiara Collins, Ciera Daniels and Angel Reese.

In his second season with the Pilots, he led them to an overall record of 16-2 and a conference record of 7-1. The Pilots would go on to win their second Red River Athletic Conference regular reason crown and their fourth RRAC tournament crown, earning them a bid to the NAIA National Tournament for the tenth time in program history.

Strickland coached the RRAC Conference Player of the year and NAIA All-American in Fu’tra Banks, along with four All-Conference selections in Fu’tra Banks, DeAuja Thompson, Angel Reese and Britney Thompson.

In his first season with the Pilots, Strickland led them to a 23-7 overall record and a Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and earned an automatic bid to the NAIA DI Women’s National Tournament before its cancellation.

Strickland coached the RRAC Conference Player of the year, Newcomer of the year, and Louisiana Sportswriters Association Co-Player of the year in DeAuja Thompson. The Pilots had two NAIA All-American selections in DeAuja Thompson and Fu’tra Banks, along with five All-Conference selections in DeAuja Thompson, Fu’tra Banks, Kiara Collins (RRAC Tournament MVP) Leah Silva and Sabrina Banks.

Matthew Strickland is the 5^th head coach of the Pilots since the program was reinstated in 2003. Prior to being hired, Strickland spent his first year at LSUS as an assistant for the LSUS Men’s Basketball team after spending two seasons as the Associate Head Coach for Montana Western.

“Matt rose to the top of a very competitive women’s basketball candidate pool. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to watch Matt coach as a part of our program this year, and there is a sense of comfort knowing exactly what we are getting. He brings passion, energy, and a positive attitude every day. I look forward to watching him build on the tradition that has been established by our former student-athletes and coaches,” Morgan said.

This past season Strickland mostly worked with the guards, but he also helped coach and recruit the NAIA National Plyer of the Year.

“I am honored to be selected as the next Head Women’s Basketball Coach at LSU Shreveport,” Strickland said. “I want to thank Chancellor Clark, Director of Athletics, Lucas Morgan, and the rest of the hiring committee for the opportunity to be a part of such a prestigious institution. LSU Shreveport is a special place, and I believe our Athletic Department is one of the premier programs in all of NAIA.”

Strickland is not new to the women’s game. He began his coaching career in 2014 as the women’s assistant at Gillette College and remained in that position for two seasons. As the assistant he helped the Lady Pronghorns to its first Region IX Championship and NJCAA DI Women’s National Tournament appearance. He coached one NJCAA DI All-American and four Region IX players. He also helped eight players receive full athletic scholarships to NCAA DI, DII, and NAIA programs.

In 2016 Strickland moved over to the men’s side as the Associate Head Coach for Montana Western. During his time the Bulldogs won the 2018 Frontier Conference Championship and made two runs to the NAIA National Tournament Sweet 16 and in 2018 reached the Elite Eight. He coached four NAIA All-Americans and five All-Conference players.

In 2018 Strickland join the coaching staff of the LSUS Men’s Basketball program as an Assistant Coach. He was instrumental in the run that the men’s team made late in the season that ended in the Sweet 16 of the National Tournament. In his one season at LSUS he helped coach three All-Americans, five All-Conference players, and the NAIA National Player of the Year.

“I will work hard each and every day to ensure our Women’s Basketball team is highly competitive and successful on the basketball court, but also to develop our student-athletes to be successful in the classroom and in the community,” Strickland said.

Strickland earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Rocky Mountain College and will finish his Master’s in Educational Leadership from LSU Shreveport in the summer of 2019.

RRAC All-Conference Players at LSUS Under Coach Strickland

RRAC Conference Player of the year

Fu’tra Banks (2021)

DeAuja Thompson (2020)

First Team
Fu'tra Banks (2020, 2021)
Deauja Thompson (2020, 2021, 2022)

Second Team
Kiara Collins (2022)

Angel Reese (2021)

Honorable Mention

Angel Reese (2022)

Ciera Daniels (2022)
Britney Thompson (2021)

Sabrina Banks (2020)

Kiara Collins (2020)

Leah Silva (2020)

STRICKLAND'S COACHING RECORD AT LSUS