University of South Dakota Athletics

Matt Lopez completed his first year as the Director of Operations for the University of South Dakota in the 2020-21 season and enters his second season with the Coyotes in 2021-22. 

Lopez, a Phoenix-area native, joined the Yotes after spending four years at Grand Canyon University where he spent two years as Video Coordinator and two years as a Student Manager under head coach Dan Majerle. At GCU, Lopez was a part of a program that made it to the WAC Championship game in its first 3 years of eligibility and went 77-52. 

Lopez serves all aspects of the program including compliance, recruiting, team travel, academic monitoring, scheduling, practice planning and game preparation. In addition, Lopez handles all film exchange, breaking down game and practice film, and creating player development edits and highlight packages for players and recruits.

Prior to GCU, Lopez was the video coordinator at Glendale Community College under head coach Damin Lopez, a former Pepperdine assistant coach. While Lopez served on the GCC staff, the Gauchos made the NJCAA Region I Division II playoffs and defeated the 2015-16 Division I national champions, Salt Lake Community College, at the Native American Classic.
 
Lopez earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a minor in Sports Management from GCU in the spring of 2018 and a master's degree in Leadership at GCU in the summer of 2021. He is a 2013 graduate of Youngker High School in Buckeye, Arizona, where he was a varsity letterman in basketball.