Matt Painter, born on August 27, 1970, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is the head coach of the Purdue University men’s basketball team. He played point guard for Purdue from 1989 to 1993, leading the team in assists during his senior year and earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. After graduating, Painter served as an assistant coach at various institutions, including Washington & Jefferson, Barton, Eastern Illinois, and Southern Illinois, where he helped lead the Salukis to consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championships in 2002 and 2003. He became the head coach of Southern Illinois in 2003, guiding them to another conference championship and an NCAA tournament appearance. In 2004, Painter returned to Purdue as the associate head coach and was promoted to head coach in 2005. Under his leadership, the Boilermakers have won multiple Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, reached the NCAA tournament numerous times, and achieved a Final Four appearance in 2024. Painter has also been recognized with several coaching awards, including multiple Big Ten Coach of the Year honors.
For more insights into Coach Matt Painter, you might find this video interview helpful: