Former Razorback Baseball Star Takes First College Coaching job

Former Arkansas Razorback Baseball player, Matt Goodheart took to social media on Thursday to share that he has been hired as hitting coach of a JUCO program in south Arkansas.

South Arkansas University Tech is a two-year college in Camden, (Ark.) with a growing athletic program.

“Excited to announce I’ve taken my first college coaching job. I will be the hitting coach at Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden, Arkansas. I’m grateful for the opportunity and look forward to getting to work.”

The Rockets finished the 2023 season with a 20-33 overall record and a 9-27 mark in conference play. 2023 was their first as an NJCAA member.

Goodheart, a Magnolia, (Ark.) native, first played college baseball and the junior college level prior to his stint at Arkansas.

Baseball Career

He had a very successful freshman season at San Jacinto Community College batting .355 in 58 games. He belted 7 home runs and had 43 RBIs. All of his hitting achievements at the junior college level ranked in the top 25 during the 2018 season.

Once he made it to Fayetteville to play for the Razorbacks, Goodheart went straight to work displaying the pop from the plate he was known for in JUCO. As a sophomore, he led the Razorbacks at the plate with a .345 batting average.

After struggling during the first weekend in Arlington, he was prescribed a new pair of contacts. Whether it was coincidental or not the change shot Goodheart’s average to heights not seen by a newcomer before. His performance as a sophomore earned him a spot to the second team all-SEC.

As a senior in 2021, the Columbia County slasher was a part of one of the most dominant offenses in school history. His team scored a school record of 109 home runs. Goodheart had the most dominant hitting season of his division one college baseball career by hitting 13 home runs, 6 doubles to go along with 38 RBIs.

Following his senior season, Goodheart was picked up as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Keeping Coaching in the Family

His father, Steve, is a hall of fame baseball coach in Magnolia as well. He created a monster at Southern Arkansas University after serving 23 years as head coach for the Muleriders from 1981-2003. He finished his career with a record of 764-416-5.