Matt Blair

When you find something that brings new meaning to your life, it can feel like a fresh battery has been put into place. It energizes you and brings you strength. For Matt Blair, it’s his profession that keeps him going. His AA battery: Academics and Athletics. Matt is the Assistant Athletic Director at Malden Catholic High School in Malden, Massachusetts. He graduated from Rivier with a B.S. in Human Development and M.A. in School Counseling. “Seeing students achieve their individual goals both in and out of the classroom is what drives me in my career,” shares Matt.

Sideline Support

Matt’s desire to pursue a career in education and athletics began at a young age. He says the positive experiences he had growing up as a student athlete led him to his profession. “I have had many great educators, coaches, and mentors that provided me with many formative life lessons that I am still grateful for today,” he says. “My family also played a huge part in my decision to work in the field by encouraging me to always get involved and find ways to give back to my school and community.” While at the University, Matt did just that. He found ways to get involved with student life by serving as a resident assistant, student orientation leader, and member of the Student Government Association. He was also involved in Campus Ministry and an active member of the Athletics Department. “All of these leadership opportunities allowed me to come out of my comfort zone and grow as a strong servant leader,” he says. “I am grateful for the rich academic experiences that were provided to me from the faculty and the academic support and resources staff while earning my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Rivier.”

Setting Goals for the Future

As the Assistant Athletic Director, Matt knows his responsibilities go far beyond the day-to-day tasks. “In working collaboratively with the Athletic Director, we are furthering the mission of producing exceptional student athletes, building on the history with the boys’ programs and creating a new legacy with the girls’ programs,” explains Matt. He says part of his job is to also offer a variety of opportunities to student athletes to help them carry out the school’s mission. “We are built on the foundational values of humility, simplicity, compassion, trust and zeal, which all have a special place in athletics as well,” he shares. “I enjoy working with students in recognizing their personal successes so that it helps them to increase their confidence and overcome personal adversities.”

Playing a Part in the Community

Aside from his role at Malden Catholic, Matt is also a licensed realtor with Lamacchia Realty and involved in a variety of service projects. He’s an active member of Project Blackout Pediatric Cancer, which unites communities and builds awareness across New England. He also facilitates local youth and high school multi-sport athletic clinics and advises the Student Athlete Leadership Team which is designed to facilitate student growth as athletic and community leaders. “It’s important to me to help them tackle their challenges by developing problem-solving strategies and promoting resilience,” he says.

Striving for Success

As a Rivier graduate, Matt knows his career goes beyond the game. Every day, he works toward the goal of transforming hearts and minds by taking the time to understand both the needs and desires of his student athletes. It has become his daily mission to make a difference. “Within my wide range of diverse experiences and opportunities, I continue to strive to become an effective educator in the field of athletics.”