RUSTON – After nine seasons as the head men's golf coach at Louisiana Tech University, head coach Matt Terry has resigned from his position to accept the head coaching job at University of North Alabama.
 
"On behalf of Louisiana Tech Athletics, I want to thank Matt Terry for his outstanding leadership, commitment, and service to our men's golf program," stated Vice President & Director of Athletics Ryan Ivey.  "Matt has been instrumental in elevating our program, developing our student-athletes, and representing Louisiana Tech with integrity and professionalism. While we are certainly disappointed to see him leave, we are excited for Matt, Dixie, and their family as they return home to North Alabama and begin this next chapter. Family is at the heart of college athletics, and this opportunity allows them to be closer to their roots and loved ones. We are grateful for everything Matt has done for Louisiana Tech and will be cheering for his continued success. He will always be a valued member of the Bulldog family."
 
The new opportunity gives the Moulton, Alabama, native a chance to return closer to home, as North Alabama is located roughly 45 minutes from where he grew up. The move also carries personal significance, as his wife, Dixie McCreless, was a former two-sport athlete at UNA.

"I'm extremely excited to join the North Alabama family and come home," said Terry. "I appreciate the faith that Dr. Looney and Dr. (Janae) Walker have in me with bringing me to Florence. I'm excited to get started on the journey with the Lions. I want to thank Ryan Ivey, Mary Kay Hungate, President (Jim) Henderson and everyone that touched my family's lives at Louisiana Tech. You guys truly made it feel like home every day. I will always cherish our time in Ruston."
 
Terry, the 2023 Conference USA Coach of the Year, took over the LA Tech program prior to the 2017-18 season. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs most recently shot a 280 (-8) at the CUSA Championships this past spring, marking a tie for the program's lowest single-round score at the event.

The Bulldogs also opened the 2025-206 season with a tie for seventh at the Argent Financial Classic, their home event, marking their best finish at the tournament since 2022. LA Tech shot 854 (-10), tying the program record for lowest 54-hole total at the event.

Individually, the Bulldogs totaled eight top-20 finishes on the season, led by Riley Hnatyshyn, who tied for fifth at the Louisiana Classics in a field of 92 golfers.
 
The 2024-25 season produced 15 team rounds at or under par, shattering the previous program record of nine. The Bulldogs also set program records for the lowest team round (-15) and lowest 54-hole total (-24) at the Ka'anapali Classic in Lahaina, Hawaii.
 
Terry coached Niilo Maki-Petaja, a Second Team All-Conference USA selection, who earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tallahassee Regional, extending the program's streak to four consecutive seasons of having a Bulldog compete as an individual in the postseason. Maki-Petaja, who was ranked as high as No. 97 in the country, set the single-season program record for most rounds at or under par with 22, and tied the low 54-hole total for a Bulldog by shooting 14-under (202) at the GMAC Invitational.
 
LA Tech also made program history during the 2023-24 season as the Bulldogs finished first in stroke play at the CUSA Championship after shooting 280-294-286=860 (-4) to finish three strokes better than the second-place team. The Bulldogs' 860 was its lowest 54-hole total in a league championship in school history, earning them the No. 1 seed for match play.
 
Prior to arriving in Ruston, Terry spent 15 years building highly successful men's and women's golf programs at Troy University. He served as head coach of the Troy men's program for 15 seasons and also guided the women's program for 11 seasons, the final four as Director of Golf. Under his leadership, Troy reached its pinnacle in 2015 when both programs competed in NCAA Regionals. Terry spent three seasons at Shelton State college in Tuscaloosa, Ala., before leading the Trojans.
 
"As we turn the page to our next head coach, we are confident in our ability to attract a great fit to Louisiana Tech and the Ruston community," relayed Ivey. "Our partnership with Squire Creek provides a tremendous asset for our program to compete at a high level. We look forward to great things ahead."
 
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