A two-time Empire 8 Coach of the Year winner, Matt Cohen joined St. John Fisher University as its head men’s volleyball coach in January 2023 and has since turned the Cardinals’ program into one of the most consistent in the United Volleyball Conference and all of Division III.
Cohen, who owns a 73-23 record at Fisher, has led the Cardinals to at least 24 wins in each of his first three seasons in charge of the program. In 2023, Cohen’s first season, the Cardinals finished 24-8 and made their second-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball Tournament. Fisher went 25-6 the following season and 24-9 in 2025.
The Cardinals have had several players earn major accolades under Cohen, including American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America selections Josh Bigford, Griffin Stella and Iah Rauh. Bigford (2023) and Stella (2025) earned first-team honors, while Rauh (2025) was a second-team honoree.
Trace La Robardiere was named Empire 8 Rookie of the Year in 2023 and won Libero of the Year in 2024 and 2025. Sonepith Keoviengsamay (Co-Rookie) and Jake Baker (Co-Player) have also won E8 Player of the Year awards under Cohen’s leadership.
Cohen joined the Cardinals after serving as the head coach of the women's volleyball team at Saint Johns River State College in Palatka, Florida. He was at the helm from 2013 to 2015 and 2018 to 2022, and in that time, he compiled a record of 162-98.
In 2021, Cohen was named Sun-Lakes Conference Coach of the Year after leading his team to the school's first-ever conference championship. The Vikings went 17-1 in conference play and 31-5 overall. Five of his players received All-Conference honors and one was named an All-American.
Cohen's teams have also excelled in the classroom, earning the AVCA Academic Team Award in seven of his eight seasons at SJR State. In addition to coaching the indoor team, Cohen was also the head beach volleyball coach and assistant athletic director.
Before SJR State College, Cohen was at Yavapai College in Prescott, AZ, where he led the Roughriders to 124 wins in 6 seasons. In his final year, the 'riders went 29-7.
In addition to coaching at the NJCAA level, Cohen has coached with some of the top boys club programs in the state of Florida - 352 Elite and Ocean Bay Volleyball, and Arizona – AZ Fear.
Year-By-Year At Fisher
| Year |
Overall Record |
UVC Record |
| 2025 |
24-9 |
4-3 |
| 2024 |
25-6 |
5-2 |
| 2023 |
24-8 |
3-3 |
| Total |
73-23 (.760) |
12-8 (.600) |
By The Numbers
All-UVC Honors: 8 (2 first team)
All Empire 8 Honors: 17 (5 first team)
Empire 8 Player of the Year Honorees: 1… Jake Baker (Co-Player of The Year, 2024)
Empire 8 Libero of the Year Honorees: 1… Trace La Robardiere x2 (2024 and 2025)
Empire 8 Rookie of the Year Honorees: 2… Gabe La Robardiere (2023), Sonepith Keoviengsamay (2024)
All-America Honors: 5… Josh Bigford (first team, 2023), Griffin Stella x2 (first team 2025, honorable mention 2023), Ian Rauh x2 (second team 2024, honorable mention 2025).
AVCA Team Academic Awards: 2… 2024, 2025
Updated 1/7/2026
