Matt Gardner - Baseball Coach - Texas Tech Red Raiders

Matt Gardner

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
matthew.gardner@ttu.edu

Matt Gardner enters his 10th season on staff at Texas Tech in 2023, and his sixth as an assistant coach. Gardner oversees the Red Raiders' pitching staff, and also works with the catchers and outfielders.

Gardner was promoted to assistant coach on June 26, 2017, after serving four years as the program’s volunteer assistant coach.

Gardner, who began his collegiate playing career for Tim Tadlock at Grayson County College in 2005, came to Tech following two seasons as the pitching coach at Lubbock Christian University (2012-13). Prior to LCU, Gardner spent three seasons as a graduate assistant coach (2009) and volunteer assistant coach (2010-11) at his alma mater, Oklahoma State.

Since Gardner’s arrival in 2013, Texas Tech has had 37 pitchers selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Tech set a school record for pitchers selected in the MLB draft in 2015 with five, set another record in 2016 with six, and again in 2018 with seven. In 2021, five Red Raider pitchers were drafted and four more in 2022. Sixteen Red Raider pitchers have been taken in the first eight rounds over the last seven years in Matt Withrow, Corey Taylor, Dominic Moreno, Ryan Moseley, Parker Mushinski, Steven Gingery, Caleb Kilian, Clayton Beeter, Bryce Bonnin, Mason Montogemery, Ryan Sublette, Hunter Dobbins, Patrick Monteverde, Andrew Morris, Brandon Birdsell and Chase Hampton.

The Red Raiders posted 45-win seasons for four consecutive years from 2016-19, combining for 183 victories over that span which is the most for Tech since 1995-98. After Gardner’s promotion, Tech continued elevating the trajectory of the program by making its first-ever back-to-back College World Series appearances in 2018 and 2019 while capturing the 2019 Big 12 Championship.

TEXAS TECH (2014-2022 SEASONS)
The 2022 Red Raiders continued what it had been doing every year since 2016, competing in the NCAA Tournament, but it was new territory as the previous five regionals were hosted in Lubbock and this edition sent Texas Tech on the road. The Red Raiders advanced to a Regional Final for the sixth-straight year, with its run ending there in 2022 to CWS participant Notre Dame. Once the season came to a close, Texas Tech finished inside the Top 25 of all six national polls in the end-of-season rankings, extending a steak that also started in 2016. In July, Gardner saw his primary weekend rotation in 2022 each drafted in the MLB Draft as right-handers Andrew Morris (4th Rd., Twins), Brandon Birdsell (5th Rd., Cubs) and Chase Hampton (6th Rd., Yankees) were drafted over three consecutive rounds. In total, four of the five Red Raiders drafted in 2022 were pitchers as Austin Becker was later taken in the 16th round by the Colorado Rockies. Birdsell was an All-American in 2022 and named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year while Morris was a second-team All-Big 12 pick.

Tech’s 2021 season was one that saw a squad rally together and fight through a slow start and a season that plagued them with injuries. The Red Raiders won 14 in a row after its opening series. Tech finished 39-17, including 27 wins in the friendly confines of Rip Griffin Park. Texas Tech was rewarded with a No. 8 national seed in the NCAA tournament and hosted a regional for the fifth-straight year and qualified to host a Super Regional for the third time in the last five completed seasons. Tech’s loss to Stanford marked the first time the Red Raiders did not advance out of the Super Regional, having been 4-0 in such series previously.

The Red Raiders were poised for yet another run to Omaha in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic cut the season short in the middle of March. Tech started strong out of the gates and earned the program’s first No. 1 ranking since 1997 before finishing with a 16-3 record.

Despite the abbreviated season, Gardner helped Tech build on its reputation for having one of the most dynamic pitching staffs in the country. Right-hander Micah Dallas earned All-America honors as he finished the year with remarkable numbers working out of the bullpen. The sophomore went 1-0 with three saves and a 0.57 ERA in 15.2 IP with 23 strikeouts and only one walk.

Meanwhile, a pair of Red Raider pitchers went early in the 2020 MLB Draft, as Clayton Beeter was selected at No. 66 overall in the Competitive Balance Round B, and Bryce Bonnin went in the third round at No. 84. It was the first time multiple Red Raiders had been chosen in the top three rounds of the draft. Additionally, John McMillon gained the consistency that helped him sign a free agent contract with the Kansas City Royals.

Under Gardner’s tutelage, Beeter and Bonnin went from relatively unknowns the year prior to prized commodities in the 2020 draft. Beeter worked his way back from Tommy John surgery in 2017 to become the team’s closer during the 2019 run to Omaha. In 2020, he worked his way to becoming the Friday night starter and went 2-1 in four starts with a 2.14 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 21 frames. Bonnin, meanwhile, transferred to Tech from Arkansas where he was groomed into the Sunday starter in 2019 during Tech’s run to the CWS. In 2020, he became the Saturday starter and went 2-0 in four starts, striking out 27 in 14.2 innings of work.

Corey Taylor recorded one of the best seasons in NCAA history in 2015 as the senior led the country with a 0.31 ERA that was the sixth-lowest in NCAA history and the lowest for any Division-I pitcher since Al Holland (North Carolina A&T) in 1975. His impressive year snapped both the Texas Tech and Big 12 records for ERA as he allowed just two earned runs over 57.1 innings.

Taylor, a seventh round draft selection by the New York Mets, was named a third team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), marking the first time a Tech pitcher has earned All-America honors since John Neely in 2011.

In 2016, Tech added two Freshman All-Americans in Davis Martin and Steven Gingery, who put together strong debuts donning the scarlet & black. Martin recorded a 10-1 record, the first 10-win pitcher for the Red Raiders since Steve Rowe in 2002. His 10 victories were also the most ever by a Texas Tech freshman, led the Big 12 and tied for the most among freshman in the NCAA. His spotless 6-0 record in conference play and his 2.52 overall ERA helped him earn four Freshman All-America accolades. Martin’s 10^th win made history, coming at the College World Series in a 3-2 thriller, which marked Tech’s first-ever win at the CWS.

Gingery led the Red Raiders in 2016 with 63 strikeouts after notching a 4-2 record overall. In Big 12 play, Gingery went 3-0 with a tremendous 1.85 ERA, which led the conference. Tech finished the year with the third-most wins in school history at 47-20, while earning the school’s fifth conference title behind a 19-5 Big 12 record. The Red Raiders appearance in the College World Series marked the second berth in three years.

Gingery had another phenomenal season in 2017, becoming the program’s first unanimous first team All-American, while also earning Big 12 & National Pitcher of the Year awards. He racked up 107 strikeouts, a 10-1 record and a 1.58 ERA in 15 starts on the mound. The Red Raiders put together a 45-17 record on their way to their second-straight Big 12 championship & No. 5 NCAA National Seed. The Tech bullpen also set a program record for saves in a single season with 22, finishing with a 3.73 team ERA.

Gardner helped lead the Red Raider pitching staff to their best season in school history in 2014 – Gardner’s first season on the Texas Tech staff. The Red Raiders historic season included winning the NCAA Coral Gables Regional, NCAA Lubbock Super Regional and making Tech’s first-ever appearance at the College World Series in Omaha.

The Red Raiders won 45 games in 2014 – the fourth most wins in school history while Gardner assisted pitching coach Ray Hayward with the pitching staff that set numerous school records, including shutouts (9), ERA during the aluminum bat era – since 1974 (3.11), times holding opponents to two runs or fewer (30), innings pitched (587.2) and ERA during Big 12 play (4.09).

The Red Raiders repeated the feat in 2016 and again in 2018 to make it three College World Series appearances in the last five years. Tech set a school record during the 2018 campaign with a 37.0 inning scoreless streak from Feb. 18 to Feb. 26 and Davis Martin took over the program’s top spot in postseason appearances (7), starts (7), innings pitched (32.0) and wins (3). Sophomore Caleb Kilian, a Firs Team All-Big 12 honoree, led the conference and ranked 31^st nationally with nine victories.

Kilian continued his dominance as the Red Raiders returned to the College World Series in 2019 for their fourth trip in six seasons. Tech won its third Big 12 title in four years behind Kilian’s 7-0 record during conference play, making him one of just seven Big 12 pitchers since 2003 to earn seven conference wins without a loss. After earning a No. 8 national seed, Tech went on two win two games in Omaha for the first time as it finished as one of the last four teams remaining with a 46-20 overall record.

Kilian turned out to be the highest of four Red Raider pitchers drafted in the 2019 MLB Draft, going in the eighth round after being drafted in the 20th round in 2018. Kilian and fellow right-hander Taylor Floyd were All-Big 12 First Team selections while freshmen Clayton Beeter and Micah Dallas received Freshman All-America accolades.

PRIOR TO TECH
Just before arriving at Tech, Gardner was the pitching coach for the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Cod League during the summer of 2013. He helped lead the Anglers to the President’s Trophy, awarded annually to the team with the best overall record (26-17). During his summer in the Cape, Gardner coached Red Raider catcher Hunter Redman and right-handed pitcher Dominic Moreno.

He arrived at Texas Tech from crosstown Lubbock Christian University after he helped lead the Chaps to a 44-17 overall ranking and a national ranking that jumped to as high as No. 4 nationally during his final year. LCU set a school record following that season with three Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft selections.

During his two campaigns at LCU, the Chaps won 79 games, had 12 All-Sooner Athletic Conference selections and six NAIA All-America selections. LCU received a national ranking during every week of the season during Gardner’s two seasons with eight rankings inside the top 10 in the nation.

While at Oklahoma State, Gardner assisted then-head coach Frank Anderson with the pitching duties during the 2010-11 seasons and worked with the team’s catchers as a graduate assistant coach in 2009. Gardner coached 21 MLB draft picks at Oklahoma State – 10 of which were pitchers while five OSU players were selected in the top-10 rounds of the MLB Draft. In addition to coaching over 20 draft picks at his alma mater, Gardner mentored 18 All-Big 12 selections, 21 Academic All-Big 12 honorees, two Big 12 Pitchers of the Week and one All-American.

Gardner’s coaching career also includes a pair of assistant coaching stints at the junior college level while coaching the fall of 2009 at Ranger College and the fall of 2010 at Midland College.

A Friday-night starter at Oklahoma State for two seasons, Gardner was an All-Big 12 selection and Academic All-Big 12 award winner during his three-year career (2006-08) as a student-athlete. He helped lead OSU to three-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, which included a trip to an NCAA Super Regional in 2007. Gardner and the Cowboys captured three straight 40-win seasons, something that hadn’t been accomplished in Stillwater since 1997-99.

Gardner earned his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University with a degree in education in 2008. He is originally from Andrews, Texas, graduating from Andrews High School in 2004.

Matt is the son of Rodney Gardner and Vickie Gardner, both graduates of Lubbock Christian University. His father, Rodney, was a 1975 All-American at LCU playing under former Tech head coach Larry Hays. Rodney went on to coach locally in Lubbock as well as at Abernathy and Estacado High School.

Gardner was born in Lubbock on Nov. 2, 1984. He and his wife, Laiken, were married in October 2015 and have a daughter and a son.

THE GARDNER FILE:
2014-Present - Texas Tech (Assistant Coach)
2013 (Summer) - Chatham Anglers (Pitching Coach)
2011-2013 - Lubbock Christian (Pitching Coach)
2011 - Oklahoma State (Volunteer Assistant Coach)
2010 (Fall) - Midland College (Assistant Coach)
2010 - Oklahoma State (Volunteer Assistant Coach)
2009 (Fall) - Ranger College (Assistant Coach)
2008-2009 - Oklahoma State (Graduate Assistant Coach)