LAKE WALES, FL - Warner University Athletic Director Sean Hanrahan has announced the hiring of Matt Warren as the next men's basketball coach for the Royals. Warren returns to Warner University after a two-year stint as the head coach at Tabor College (KS). 

Athletic Director Sean Hanrahan had this to say, "The Warner University men's basketball program is part of my life's work and family's ministry. It is very important to our university and me that it is in great hands. There isn't a better choice in the entire country than Matt Warren. He is familiar with the conference and the state. He recruited the class that helped us win two conference titles. He did it once, he will do it again. I have seen him care for his student-athletes up close for five years. He leads with Christ in his heart and will create a culture of discipleship and servant leaders. Coach Warren will continue the legacy that I tried to honor from the coaches before me. He will be another great coach that leads the Royals to victory on and off the court."

In his two seasons at Tabor College, Coach Warren established a culture of toughness on and off the floor. The Bluejays showed drastic improvement from year one to year two while playing a plethora of underclassmen. Warren recruited and coached three all-conference selections as well as two all freshman team selections. Tabor also landed nine student athletes on the KCAC all-academic team as well as seven on the NAIA all-academic team. 

"I am humbled and honored to be named the head coach at Warner University," Warren said. "I would like to thank Dr. Hoag, the administration and Sean Hanrahan for entrusting me in being the leader of this storied program. My family and I are so excited to get to work!"

From 2017 to 2022, Coach Warren was a part of three Sun Conference regular season championships including back-to-back in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. The Royals saw fifteen players make the all-conference teams, six student athletes be recognized as on the all-academic team, and had four players earn NAIA All American honors in his time in Lake Wales, Fla
"It is a blessing that Coach Warren is able to come back to be the successor to Coach Han's extraordinary career while continuing the legacy in his honor. Coach will also keep it unique to his coaching philosophies, goals and vision for the future. God is good and looking forward to Him revealing the rest of His plans in the near future for our Warner family," senior Blaize Darling Jr said.
Fellow senior Logan West had this to say, "Coach Warren being back is great for the program! He is an experienced coach with a lot of energy towards winning games and titles, so it will be exciting to have him back in the TAC."

Warren joined the Royals after serving as the General Manager of Combine Academy of Orlando, Fla., a post graduate basketball academy. Coach Warren also was heavily involved in Pro training during his summers at Combine including multiple NBA players and numerous euro league players.

Prior to Combine, Coach Warren was the top assistant at Indian River State College, a division one junior college in Fort Pierce, Florida, which was his second stint there. Warren worked for Coach Joe Sanchez at IRSC on two different occasions which included a 24-7 record and a trip to the region 8 tournament after a Southern Conference tournament championship.

Prior to his return to IRSC, Warren was a student manager at the University of North Florida under the tutelage of Head Coach Matthew Driscoll for two seasons. At UNF, Warren was able to learn a vast number of skills at the NCAA D-I level including video editing, player development, game preparation/scouting, academics, and the day-to-day operations.

Warren graduated from the University of North Florida in 2014 with a degree in Sports Management along with an Associate of Arts degree from Indian River State College. Coach Warren also received his Master of Science from Warner University in the fall of 2019.

Matt will be joined by his wife, Caitlin, and their three-year-old son, Mason.