Matt Nantais enters his fifth year at the helm of the Louisiana Tech bowling team after leading the Lady Techsters to the four most successful seasons in program history. Nantais led the Techsters to new heights in 2019-20, coaching a team without a senior to Louisiana Tech's first appearence in a USBC Sectional. Tech ranked no. 11 in the NTCA Coaches Poll throughout the season and notched a 64@MattNantais 34 record despite competing against the toughest schedule in Nantais' tenure. The Lady Techsters won the JSU Sonic Boom Invitational for the third year in a row and finished in the top-ten in every tournament they competed in. Tech also set a school record with 10 consecutive wins at the Northeast Invitational and 3 straight matches over 1,000 at the Music City Classic. In 2018-19, Louisiana Tech ranked in the Top 25 throughout the season, going 64-41 and winning two tournaments: the JSU Sonic Boom Invitational and Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Lady Techsters also earned acknowledgement from the NTCA for their work in the classroom with five student-athletes earning NTCA All-Academic Honors. On the lanes, Nantais coached Kaitlyn Eder to a spot on the Southland Conference first team and NTCA All-America honors. The sophomore led Tech in strikes (323), strike percentage (46.9%), spare conversion percentage (73.5%) and average per frame (20.01). Eder and Ashley Channell also earned Southland Conference All-Academic honors. In 2017-18, the Lady Techsters had an unparalleled year, notching 55 victories, and earning national rankings in the NTCA poll for the first time in school history. Nantais paced Tech to a program-best six top-10 finishes, including a tournament championship at the Jackson State Sonic Boom Invitational. Nantais saw impressive play from up and down his lineup in his second season, bolstered by the play of freshman Kaitlyn Eder. The rookie was named the National Rookie of the Year and an All-America Honorable Mention from the NTCA. She also earned a spot on Junior Team USA after a solid finish at the United States Bowling Congress Team USA Trials. The Lady Techsters defeated the no. 1 team in the nation and Nebraska, and throughout the course of the season, earned at least one triumph over every top-10 team in the nation. Tech finished the year ranked 20th among 80 D1 programs. In his first year in 2016-17, Tech made significant progress, earning a top-10 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore. The team also saw success outside the lanes, as Shelby Smith and Sarah McComic both earned all-academic recognition from the NTCA. Nantais was announced as the new head coach for the Louisiana Tech Bowling program on September 21, 2016. Nantais joined the program after spending the previous five seasons at Valparaiso. Nantais led Valparaiso over 300 victories in his five years at Valparaiso. That total includes a program-record 84 wins in his first season (2011-12), a season where the Crusaders ascended as high as #1 in the NTCA coaches poll and advanced to the 2012 NCAA Women's Bowling Championship, where the team finished in the final six. Nantais guided the Crusaders to 60 victories in 2012-13 and 59 wins in 2013-14, while last season saw the Crusaders earn 50 wins. Each of the last two seasons, Nantais has lined up a schedule for Valpo which ranks among the nation's toughest - slates which featured opponents among the top-ten in the nation for nearly half the team's matches. The Crusaders ended the 2014-15 campaign ranked 16th nationally, continuing the program's streak of being ranked in every single NTCA coaches poll since the program's inception. Under Nantais, the Valparaiso bowling program became a member of the Southland Bowling League during the 201415 campaign, a newly formed league of eight of the nation's top programs. The Crusaders finished in third place at the inaugural Southland Bowling League Championship in March of 2015. Over his four seasons, Nantais has seen nine bowlers earn All-Tournament Team honors, including Natalie Cortese at the NCAA Championship in 2012. He also coached Cortese as she earned NTCA Honorable Mention All-American status following her senior season, while Torrie Decker became the second bowler in program history to be named an Honorable Mention All-American for her work during the 2014-15 campaign. Nantais' bowlers have enjoyed success in the classroom as well over his three years at the helm. Cortese was an NTCA All-Academic Third Team selection in 2012, while the Crusaders have had 16 bowlers earn All-Academic recognition from the NTCA over the last three years. In addition, Valpo earned team academic recognition from the NTCA for the first time in 2014. Nantais came to Valparaiso after spending a season as an assistant coach for the women's squad at Robert Morris [Ill.] University. While there, Nantais helped guide the Lady Eagles as they reached the top spot in the nation in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team national poll. Robert Morris went on to close the season with a fifth-place finish at the National USBC Team Championships, as well as a third-place showing at the NAIA Team Championships. Prior to joining the Robert Morris coaching staff, Nantais spent the 2009-2010 season as assistant coach for the Lake Central H.S. girl's team, which placed fifth in the state. During his year at Lake Central, he helped tutor current Crusader Kaity Galka. Nantais also previously spent two seasons (2006-2008) as head coach of the boy's team at North Newton H.S., and has served as a coach in the Stardust III (Dyer, Ind.) Junior Program since 1987. He received his USBC Bronze Certification in June of 2008 and followed up by earning his Silver Certification in October of 2008.
MATT
NANTAIS HC
2020-21 LADY TECHSTER BOWLING RECORD BOOK | 3
