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Colgate University Athletics

Olivia Hokanson
Olivia Hokanson
Drew Clements
Drew Clements
Olivia Hokanson
Matt Langel Headshot 2022

Matt Langel

  • Title
    Head Men's Basketball Coach
  • Email
    mlangel@colgate.edu
  • Phone
    315-228-7571
  • Alma Mater
    Penn ’00
 | 

Awards/Records

  • Winningest Coach in Program History
  • Most Patriot League Tournament Wins in PL History (22)
  • Only 5x Patriot League Men's Basketball Coach of the Year ((2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024)
  • 2x NABC District 13 Coach of the Year (2019, 2023)
  • 2x Mid-Major Coach of the Year Finalist (2020-21, 2021-22)
  • ECAC Coach of the Year (2019) 

Matt Langel has guided Colgate Basketball to its greatest era in program history. 
 
Since arriving in Hamilton in 2011, Langel has mentored four Patriot League Players of the Year, three Patriot League Defensive Players of the Year, two Patriot League Rookies of the Year, more than 40 All-Patriot League picks, seven Patriot League All-Rookie selections, 12 All-District honorees, and an AP All-American honorable mention. 
 
In 2023, Langel became the Patriot League's first four-time Coach of the Year. He then repeated the honor in 2024, earning Coach of the Year for the fifth time in a seven-year span, after leading Colgate to its fourth consecutive Patriot League championship.Five of Colgate’s seven NCAA tournament appearances have come under Langel, bringing the Raiders to the top of the Patriot League record book in tournament titles (7).
 
Highlights during Langel's time in Hamilton include: 
  • Winningest coach in program history
  • Only five-time Patriot League Coach of the Year in league history
  • Five Coach of the Year honors in a seven-year span
  • Five Patriot League championships (2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24)
  • Five NCAA tournament appearances (2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24)
  • Five Patriot League regular season titles (2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24)
  • Five 20-win seasons (2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24)
  • First team in Patriot League history to win four consecutive league titles
  • Program record 26 wins and Patriot League record 17 league wins in 2022-23
  • Highest seed in NCAA Tournament (No. 14 three times)
  • Seven consecutive Patriot League championship appearances from 2017-2024
  • Four years of setting program-record win totals
  • Nearly 20 former Raiders playing professionally

Program Leadership & Championships

Matt Langel is the winningest head coach in Colgate men’s basketball history and the only five-time Patriot League Coach of the Year. In 2025 Langel set the Patriot League record for the most conference tournament wins as a head coach with 22. Under his leadership, Colgate has experienced the most successful era in program history, including: 
  • Five 20-win seasons
  • Six of the program’s eight Patriot League regular-season championships
  • Five of the program’s seven Patriot League Tournament titles
  • Four consecutive tournament championships (2021–24)
Since 2018 alone, Langel has guided Colgate to five 20-win seasons, five regular-season titles, five tournament championships, and five NCAA Tournament appearances, firmly establishing the Raiders as one of the nation’s most consistent mid-major programs.

Historic Runs to the NCAA Tournament

2023–24 Season
  • Colgate finished 25-10 overall, tied for the second-most wins in program history, and went 16–2 in Patriot League play for the third straight season. The Raiders became the first team in Patriot League history to go unbeaten on the road (9–0) during league play, securing their fifth consecutive regular-season title and fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
2022–23 Season
  • The Raiders set a program record with 26 wins (26–9) and became the first team in Patriot League history to win 17 conference games (17–1). Colgate ranked among the nation’s elite offensively:
    • No. 1 in three-point percentage (40.8%)
    • No. 2 in field goal percentage (51.4%)
    • No. 2 in effective field goal percentage (58.5%)
    • No. 3 in assists per game (18.6)
2021–22 Season
  • Colgate won a program-record 15 consecutive games, capturing its fifth Patriot League championship and earning a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament. National rankings included:
    • No. 2 in three-point field goal percentage
    • No. 6 in total three-pointers made
    • No. 8 in assists per game
2020–21 Season
  • Colgate ranked among the nation’s best statistically:
    • No. 1 in three-point field goal defense (26.4%)
    • No. 2 in scoring offense (85.2 ppg)
    • No. 3 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6)
2018–19 Season
  • Langel led Colgate back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 23 years, finishing 24–11 overall. An eight-game winning streak secured the Patriot League regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

Player Development and Professional Advancement

Colgate’s success under Langel extends beyond the college game. More than 20 players have gone on to play professionally, including recent graduates: Tucker Richardson ’23, Keegan Records ’23, Ryan Moffatt ’23, Jack Ferguson ’22, Jordan Burns ’21, Will Rayman ’20, and Rapolas Ivanauskas ’20.

Academic Excellence

Colgate University consistently ranks among the nation’s top academic institutions, and the men’s basketball program reflects that standard. The university’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR) annually exceeds 95%, and the program routinely earns NCAA public recognition for multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores.

Coaching Background

Langel was named the 20th head coach in Colgate’s 114-year basketball history on April 25, 2011. Prior to Colgate, he spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Temple University (2006–11) under legendary head coach Fran Dunphy, the winningest coach in Philadelphia Big 5 history and a 2019 Big 5 Hall of Fame inductee.

Langel also served two seasons on Dunphy’s staff at Penn, helping guide his alma mater to back-to-back Ivy League championships.

Playing Career

A 2000 graduate of the Wharton School of Business, Langel enjoyed a standout playing career at Penn (1996–2000), helping lead the Quakers to two Ivy League championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Penn went 27-1 in Ivy League play during his junior and senior seasons and posted a 42-14 overall record.

Honors and achievements include:
  • Multiple Ivy League and Big Five Player of the Week selections
  • Big Five Most Improved Player Award
  • Holiday Festival All-Tournament Team (1998)
  • Golden Bear Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team (1999)
Langel scored 1,191 career points, ranking among Penn’s all-time leaders, and finished:
  • 2nd all-time in three-pointers made in a game (8)
  • 8th in three-pointers made in a season (70)
  • 4th in career three-pointers made (201)

Professional Career

Following graduation, Langel was drafted by the Atlantic City Seagulls (USBL) and worked out with the Seattle SuperSonics. He went on to play professionally in Europe, including stops in:
  • Switzerland (Chêne BC)
  • France (ALM Évreux Basket – Pro A)
  • Germany (MBC and Hagen – Bundesliga I)
  • The Netherlands (Eiffel Towers)
He also participated in the Philadelphia 76ers Summer Camp in 2001.

Personal 
Langel and his wife, Tara, have a daughter, Logan Anne, and two sons, Lucas and Jackson.

Coaching Career
 
Year School Position Record Conf. Record Conf. Finish NCAA
2004-05 Penn Assistant 20-9 13-1 1st 1st Rd.
2005-06 Penn Assistant 20-9 12-2 1st 1st Rd.
2006-07 Temple Assistant 12-18 6-10 10th ---
2007-08 Temple Assistant 21-13 11-5 T-2nd 1st Rd.
2008-09 Temple Assistant 22-12 11-5 T-2nd 1st Rd.
2009-10 Temple Assistant 29-6 14-2 1st 1st Rd.
2010-11 Temple Assistant 26-8 14-2 2nd 3rd Rd.
2011-12 Colgate Head Coach 8-22 2-12 7th ---
2012-13 Colgate Head Coach 11-21 5-9 T-6th ---
2013-14 Colgate Head Coach 13-18 6-12 7th ---
2014-15 Colgate Head Coach 16-17 12-6 2nd ---
2015-16 Colgate Head Coach 13-17 9-9 4th ---
2016-17 Colgate Head Coach 10-22 8-10 5th ---
2017-18 Colgate Head Coach 19-14 12-6 2nd ---
2018-19    Colgate Head Coach 24-11 13-5 1st 1st Rd.
2019-20 Colgate Head Coach 25-9 14-4 1st N/A
2020-21 Colgate Head Coach 14-2 11-1 2nd 1st Rd.
2021-22 Colgate Head Coach 23-12 16-2 1st 1st Rd.
2022-23 Colgate Head Coach 26-9 17-1 1st 1st Rd.
2023-24 Colgate Head Coach 25-10 16-2 1st 1st Rd.
2024-25 Colgate Head Coach 14-19 10-8 3rd ---
Record as HC 241-203 151-87