Matt Skinn accepts men's basketball head coaching job at Cape Breton

X-Women basketball head coach Matt Skinn has accepted a new coaching opportunity as the head coach of the Cape Breton Capers men’s basketball team. Skinn will return to his alma mater to lead the Capers squad after spending the last four seasons with the X-Women.

“As much as this is about a new and exciting opportunity, this is also about leaving a school I was very proud to be a part of," says Skinn. “Leo MacPherson gave me a chance when he asked me to take over the X-Women and I will always be grateful for that. I put everything I had into that program and will always remember my time in Antigonish fondly.”

When Skinn started at StFX he turned around a seventh place team to a respectable 16-4 squad that finished fourth in the AUS standings during his first season in 2008-09. He went on to lead the X-Women to four consecutive AUS playoff appearances with their best showing coming in 2010-11 when StFX won AUS bronze to advance to the CIS central regional playoff. Skinn’s X-Women won this regional tournament to earn a berth at the CIS championship, their first since 1996 and only second national appearance in team history. At the CIS championship, the X-Women posted a 1-2 record, losing out to Cape Breton in the CIS bronze medal game.

Skinn posted a 79-44 career coaching record (regular season, non-conference, AUS & CIS playoffs) over the past four years as X-Women head coach. This past season StFX finished fifth with a 10-10 record, losing out to Acadia in a close 70-66 game in the AUS semifinals. Freshman guard Vanessa Pickard was honored as the CIS Rookie of the Year for her dominating inaugural season.

"I am very appreciative of the fine job Matt did with our women's program over the past four years," comments StFX Director of Athletics and Recreation Leo MacPherson. "He has a great coaching future ahead of him and i wish him well."
 
"Our women's basketball program is in very good shape," continues MacPherson. "The combination of a talented group of returning players and a promising group of recruits makes this an attractive opportunity for our new coach." 

Skinn will make his coaching transition in the coming months. The search for a new head coach of the StFX X-Women will begin immediately.

The official press release of Skinn’s Cape Breton coaching announcement follows, courtesy Cape Breton sports information. 

Matt Skinn named next head coach of Capers men's basketball program

April 12, 2012 (SYDNEY, N.S.) - Cape Breton University Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of Matt Skinn as the new head coach for men's basketball.

"We are pleased to have Matt rejoining us at CBU and believe he is the right coach to help lead the Capers into the future," said John Ryan, Director of Athletics at CBU. "The committee went through a very thorough search to identify who we felt would be our best candidate and I am confident in our final decision."

Skinn, a 31-year-old native of Welland, Ont., takes over a Capers squad which went 11-9 last season and earned a berth in the AUS semifinals under the guidance of interim head coach Thom Gillespie, who assumed the mantel after long-time head coach Jim Charters resigned just prior to the start of AUS conference play.

"I would like to thank Thom for stepping into a difficult position last fall and helping us through a year of transition," said Ryan. "His efforts are greatly appreciated by all of us in the Department of Athletics."

A five-year member of the Capers men's basketball team, Skinn has spent the past four seasons as the head coach of the StFX X-Women basketball team, guiding them to an overall record of 79-44 and the team's second ever appearance in the CIS Championship tournament in 2011, where they finished fourth overall.

"This is a dream come true for me," said Skinn. "To be able to return to the school where I played and graduated from and to coach my alma mater is an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I have great pride in CBU and the Department of Athletics and I'm confident you will see that reflected in my coaching and the product I will put on the floor and the people who are involved with the Capers men's basketball program."

Prior to joining the X-Women, Skinn spent four seasons as the head assistant coach with the University of Calgary Dinos men's basketball team which qualified for the Canada West playoffs each year.

An academic all-Canadian while at CBU, Skinn graduated with both Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) before obtaining his Masters of Science (Sports Psychology) from the University of Calgary.

"As much as this is about a new and exciting opportunity, this is also about leaving a school I was very proud to be a part of," said Skinn. "(StFX Athletic Director) Leo MacPherson gave me a chance when he asked me to take over the X-Women and I will always be grateful for that. I put everything I had into that program and will always remember my time in Antigonish fondly."

Skinn will be formally introduced as the new head coach of the Capers during a press conference Tuesday, April 17 at 11 a.m. at Cape Breton University.