Johns Hopkins University Athletics

Updated:  September 1, 2024
First Day at Johns Hopkins: July 1, 2010

Matt Troy enters his eighth season as the head man of the Blue Jay volleyball program in 2024. After previously coaching Hopkins from 2010-12, Troy was hired to lead the program once again on January 30^th, 2019, making his return to Homewood.

In his four seasons since returning, Troy has compiled a record of 118-14 (.894) — including a then-NCAA Division III record 66-match win streak spanning from 2019-2021 — won the program's first national championship in 2019, and has led Hopkins to consecutive NCAA Quarterfinal (Elite 8) appearances.

The 2023 campaign saw the Blue Jays go 28-5 before falling to eventual NCAA-Runner Up Hope in the Elite 8. Simrin Carlsen became the eighth athlete in program history to be named the Centennial Conference Player of the Year, and was joined by Helena Swaak in earning AVCA All-region, All-American and CSC Academic All-American recognition. 

Led by its underclassmen in 2022, Hopkins had four players earn All-Centennial Conference recognition in Alice Yu (HM), Roxy Karrer (HM), Helena Swaak (Second Team) and Simone Adam (First Team) en route to the program's second ever Elite 8. Adam was the driving force of the Jays' attack all season, claiming the CC Rookie and All-Region V Freshman of the Year awards as well as an All-American Honorable Mention nod — the first to achieve such feats since Natalie Aston in 2017.

The 2021 season in which Hopkins went 31-1 before losing to Tufts in the Sweet 16 was full of accolades for the program with Natalie Aston, Eleni Panagopoulos, and Sydney Portale earning AVCA All-America honors. The trio also earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors while Aston was named CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year. Troy was named All-Region Coach of the Year while Aston picked up another Player of the Year award.

In his first year back at the helm of the Johns Hopkins volleyball program, Matt Troy took the Blue Jays to a height never before seen in school history. Troy's Blue Jays accomplished one of the most impressive seasons in Division III history, becoming one of just three teams to ever cap an undefeated season with a National Championship (35-0).

The national title was the program's first, and they did so in nearly flawless fashion. The Jays dropped just one set (Semifinal vs. Trinity (Tx.)) throughout their run in the NCAA Tournament. In fact, the dropped set against Trinity (Tx.) snapped a 40-set unbeaten streak that stretched from October 17 - November 22.

The 2019 Blue Jay volleyball team featured the first two AVCA First Team All-Americans in program history (Aston (Jr., Setter) and Simone Bliss (Jr., Outside Hitter)). Additionally, Aston was named the AVCA Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year, the first such honor in Hopkins volleyball history. Troy also took home AVCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year honors, another first for JHU.

The Blue Jay win streak was the longest in DIII history and is the longest win streak in Johns Hopkins history across all sports.   

Matt Troy was named the head volleyball coach at Johns Hopkins on January 30, 2019, marking his second stint as the head coach at Johns Hopkins after previously serving in the position from 2010-12.  He then spent six seasons as the head coach at Mary Washington before returning to Homewood.

Troy posted a 133-57 record at Mary Washington and led the Eagles to three trips to the NCAA Tournament and one Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) title.  His 2016 team posted a 31-4 record, claimed the program’s first CAC championship since 1991 and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals.  He also guided Mary Washington to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 (first round) and 2018 (second round) and the Eagles won at least 20 matches four times in his six seasons.
 
During his first tenure at Johns Hopkins, Troy quickly turned a solid Blue Jay program into a Centennial Conference power.  He compiled an overall record of 73-21 (.777), including a 54-9 (.857) mark in his final two seasons.  Johns Hopkins posted a 27-3 (.900) record in Centennial Conference regular season action and claimed the first two Centennial titles in school history (2011, 2012).  The Blue Jays made the program’s first two appearances in the NCAA Tournament under Troy’s direction in 2011 and 2012 and the 29 wins the 2012 team amassed remain a school single-season record.
 
Collectively, Troy has now earned seven Coach of the Year honors with two selections from the Centennial Conference (2011, 2019), two from the CAC (2016, 2018), and three AVCA Region Coach of the Year honors. He was also the 2016 AVCA North Region Coach of the Year.

Previously at Johns Hopkins, Troy coached eight players who earned All-Centennial Conference honors and the 2012 Centennial Player and Rookie of the Year.  He also coached three AVCA All-Americans, three AVCA All-Region players, the 2012 AVCA Regional Rookie of the Year and four CoSIDA Academic All-District selections.

Altogether, Troy boasts a career record of 332-94 (.779) as a DIII volleyball coach. Troy's teams have won at least 20 games 10 times and have had a winning percentage greater than .600 in 12 of 13 seasons. 
 
Troy graduated from West Virginia University in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and health. In 2009, he completed his master's from West Virginia in athletic coaching education.
 
Troy and his wife, Melissa, have four daughters:  Alexis, Kamryn, Emily and Brooke.