Matt Harder joins UC Santa Barbara after previously serving as a Part-Time Assistant Coach for the University of Chicago. While at Chicago, the men’s team finished 3rd at the NCAA DIII Championships in each of his two seasons and the women’s team placed 8th in 2024 and 7th in 2025. In total, the Maroons earned 33 NCAA All-American Awards and broke 29 School Records.
At the 2025 NCAA DIII Championships, he helped guide Cooper Costello to become the first DIII swimmer in history to break 46 seconds in the 100 fly (45.97) en-route to an individual NCAA title. In addition, the Chicago men swept the 200-400-800 freestyle relays at NCAA’s, with the 800 freestyle relay tying the NCAA Record at 6:26.98.
During the Summer of 2024, he also assisted in the lead-up training for two Maroons: Garrett Clasen, a 2024 US Olympic Trials qualifier, and Jesse Ssengonzi, a first-time Olympian (Uganda) who competed at the 2024 Olympic Games. Ssengonzi had won the 100 fly (46.28) for the Maroons at the 2024 NCAA DIII Championships in what was then a new NCAA Record.
Harder also served as the Head Senior Coach of RISE Aquatic Club, a Bronze Medal Club in Chicago in which he was part of the inaugural staff for 2022. At RISE, Harder coached multiple Illinois State Champions and State Championship Relays, State Record Holders, Winter Junior Qualifiers, Summer Junior Qualifiers/Finalists, and US Open Qualifiers. During Harder’s last season, RISE Aquatic Club swept the Team Standings at the 2025 LC Senior State Championships, winning Top Girls Club, Top Boys Club, and Top Overall Club.
While at RISE, Harder was nominated for several Coaching Staffs at the Central Zone and USA Swimming Level. Harder had served on 4 of Team Illinois’ Coaching Staffs for the Central Zone Championships, including being named Head Coach in 2023 and 2024. Additionally, Harder had been selected to serve as an Assistant Coach for USA Swimming’s Central Zone Select Camp in 2022 and 2023, as well as an Assistant Manager in 2025.
Harder earned his Bachelor’s of Science in K-12 Physical Education with a minor in Sports Psychology from Concordia University Chicago.
