THE OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS

Currently the Rehab Pitching Coordinator with the San Diego Padres, Matt Hancock was a four-year letterman for the Lions as a pitcher from 2002-2005, and then spent 13 seasons on the UNA baseball coaching staff. 

He is one of six 20-plus game winning pitchers in school history, and he coached three of the other five. 

He posted a 20-5 career record on the mound, going 6-0 as a freshman, 5-0 as a sophomore, 2-2 as a junior and 7-3 as a senior. His 20 wins rank fourth best in school history and he is one of just six 20-game winners in Lion baseball history. He ranks among UNA's all-time leaders in several categories. He is eighth in career innings pitched (207.1), fifth in career starts (29), and sixth in career appearances (58). The Lions had records of 37-16, 35-15, 34-20-1 and 39-19 in his four seasons as a player, winning GSC East Division crowns in 2002 and 2005. He received his B.S. degree in History from UNA and his Masters of Health and Physical Education from UNA as well in 2008. 

After completing his playing career, Hancock stayed at UNA and ascended into the coaching ranks. He spent the 2006 season as a student assistant coach, followed by two seasons as a graduate assistant coach for the program. In late 2008 Hancock was hired as a full-time assistant coach with a focus on pitching. He remained the pitching coach at North Alabama through the 2018 season. He coached five of UNA's nine all-time winningest pitchers in Chad Boughner (31-13), Trey Mitchell (23-10), Riley Sanderson (20-15) Brantley Claunch (18-13) and Tyler Joyner (18-7). 

During that time, he also spent two summers coaching the Alexandria Beetles of the Northwoods League. Hancock was an assistant coach for the Beetles in 2008 and was hired as the head coach for the 2011 season. 

After leaving UNA, Hancock worked as the pitching coach for the Troy University Trojans from 2019-2021.

The San Diego Padres hired Hancock in June 2021 to be the pitching coach for the Arizona Complex League (ACL) Padres. He stayed with the Padres after the season and works as the team's Rehabilitation Pitching Coordinator.

He and his wife Emily, a former UNA soccer standout, have a daughter and a son.