Matt Hancock joined the University of South Alabama baseball staff as pitching coach after three seasons in the San Diego Padres organization. He spent one year on the ACL Padres staff before serving as Rehabilitation Pitching Coordinator, overseeing the development and recovery progression of pitchers within the organization. Prior to his time in professional baseball, Hancock was the pitching coach at Troy from 2019 to 2021. There, he mentored All-American Levi Thomas, who ranked among the national leaders in strikeouts and was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the Padres. Hancock also developed standout reliever Lance Johnson, who earned recognition on the Stopper of the Year watch list after anchoring Troy’s bullpen.
Hancock’s coaching career began at the University of North Alabama (UNA), his alma mater, where he progressed from student assistant to graduate assistant and eventually assistant coach. Over nine seasons on staff, he helped guide the Lions to a 277-181-1 record and multiple NCAA South Region appearances. His pitching staffs consistently ranked among the program’s best, setting school records for strikeouts and complete games while maintaining sub-4.00 ERAs in multiple seasons. In 2012, he was named Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year at the four-year college level. As a player at UNA, Hancock compiled a 20-5 career record and contributed to two conference championships. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Alabama and brings extensive experience in both collegiate and professional pitching development to South Alabama.
