Matt Swope is in his fifth season as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator. Swope is also entering his 10th season overall on staff at Maryland after serving as the Terps' director of operations for five seasons from 2013-2017.
In 2022, the Maryland offense shattered program records under Swope's direction, The Terps set records for most Home Runs (137), most hits (683), most runs (572), most RBIs (534), and most walks (337). Chris Alleyne took a huge leap thanks to Swope, hitting 24 home runs (a single season record), and notching 79 RBIs en route to being named a First Team All-American, Golden Spikes Semifinalist, and Big Ten Player of the Year.
In 2021 the Terps offense under Swope was first in home runs, total bases, stolen bases, hit by pitches, second in runs, RBI's, On-base percentage, Slugging percentage, and base on balls. Maryland also led the Big Ten in several individual categories with Ben Cowles (home runs, triples, and total bases), and Alleyne (stolen bases and runs) leading the way.
2021 also saw the team post their best conference winning percentage since 1981 (.636) and best regular-season conference finish since 1980. The team won 18 of 21 games in the second half including 12 wins in a row at home where they won seven straight series to end the season. Ben Cowles was named first-team All-Big Ten before being drafted by the New York Yankees, Bubba Alleyne was named second-team All-Big Ten, Matthew Shaw was named a Freshman All-American, and along with Luke Shliger was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
Swope also worked with former Maryland star LaMonte Wade Jr. in the offseason where he helped the San Francisco Giants outfielders swing. Wade Jr. is now batting career highs in home runs, RBI's, and batting average.
In his second season as hitting coach, Swope helped five Terps achieve All-Big Ten honors including First Teamer and Freshman of the Year Maxwell Costes, Randy Bednar (Second Team), AJ Lee, Taylor Wright, and Michael Pineiro (Third Team). AJ Lee was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 34th round by the Houston Astros.
Swope's recruiting efforts helped key Maryland's seventh-ranked recruiting class in 2020. The class was the top-ranked in Maryland history.
Two former Terps made Major League headlines in 2019 when Brandon Lowe won the American League Rookie of the Month award in April with the Tampa Bay Rays and LaMonte Wade made his debut in June with the Minnesota Twins.
In 2018, Swope helped Nick Dunn earn All-American and All-Big Ten honors before being drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Swope also helped develop Marty Costes, who was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2018 draft.
Swope helped overhaul the Maryland baseball brand in his time as director of operations, managing a number of areas including the Terps’ budget, fundraising, scheduling, travel logistics, team events, compliance, social media, equipment, and apparel. He was directly involved with Maryland’s locker room renovation project, the Home Field project with the architecture department, and recent upgrades to Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.
The Maryland alum oversaw the state and foundation budgets and was directly involved with the Home Run Club, which liaises with former players and boosters of the program, helping raise over $1 million in private funds since 2012.
Swope was a four-year starter and had an illustrious career in College Park from 1999-2002. Playing in the outfield for the Terps, Swope finished his career with a .331 batting average, 16 home runs, and 135 RBI. He is Maryland's career leader in runs (181), ranks second in hits (253) and walks (106), third in total bases (360), fifth in RBI and at-bats (764), and eighth in stolen bases (44).
As a senior in 2002, Swope posted a .368 batting average with 64 runs scored, 55 RBI, and 31 extra-base hits to help the Terps win a then program-record 34 games. As a junior, Swope hit .328 and tallied 7 home runs and 34 RBI.
The New Carrollton, MD, native was taken in the 2002 MLB Draft by the Montreal Expos where he spent the season with their Class A affiliate Clinton Lumber Kings and their Class A Short-Season affiliate Vermont Expos.
In 2005, Swope spent the season with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. Swope and the Wild Things enjoyed a successful season. The Wild Things set a Frontier League record with 63 wins, while Swope hit .309 with ten home runs. Swope had a 28-game hitting streak during the 2005 season.
Swope was nominated as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societies Man of The Year in 2010 and has raised over $100,000 for the LLS and Kids Vs. Cancer Foundation.
Swope received his bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Maryland in 2003.
