The harsh winter temperatures are bound to set in sooner rather than later, but an almost spring-like season of change can be detected around the Concordia Prep boys basketball program. 

That’s because Detrick Matthews has taken the head coaching reins from long-time coach Bryan Howard, who guided the Saints to the MIAA B semifinals during the 2023-24 campaign, after spending the past two and a half years at John Carroll High School. “I saw this as an opportunity to build my own program and to go to a place that I felt my contributions would be needed,” said Matthews on why he applied for the position this past summer. “Being at a place where I could help build a program was one of my biggest motivations [for joining the program], and once I got on campus and saw the family atmosphere, I was sold.”

Matthews, who starred on both baseball and basketball teams at Edgewood High School, brings a diverse coaching background. He shared he was initially inspired to coach during his tenure as a Towson University men’s basketball team manager while earning his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. Matthews began his coaching career at his alma mater Edgewood as a varsity assistant coach before moving to become the junior varsity head coach at Joppatowne High School. The former collegiate baseball player at CCBC-Dundalk and Harford Community College soon after began coaching AAU basketball for Harford County United while also joining John Carroll as the junior varsity head coach and as a varsity assistant coach under long-time MIAA coach Seth Goldberg.

“He’s great. He really values and cares about the right things, and he really wants to help kids,” Goldberg said. “I think he is going to be somebody who will do what he can to help the program grow. He did a good job connecting with both incoming and current player on the [John Carroll] team.”
 

Matthews inherits a squad that returns some key players from last year’s 14-win team in All-MIAA combination guard Noah Robinson, who averaged a team-best 18 points per game, shooting guard Presley Prettyman, who chipped in roughly 11 points per contest, and forward Christian Okenkpa, who poured in 12.5 points per contest a year ago. The Saints won the MIAA B Conference Red Division crown last winter.  

“We will be as good as we practice,” Matthews said. “If we can compete extremely hard in practice and build that connectivity and relationships the right way, I think we’ll have a great season. These guys are thirsty to just be in the gym. With how much they want to be in the gym and as much as I love being around the game, it will be a great recipe for success.”

Matthews, who earned a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Maryland,  hopes for similar success for his players in the classroom.

“I want to get the team going in the right direction academically and help get these guys to college,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to help young men to get a chance to play basketball but ultimately get a four-year degree.”

The Saints open the 2024-25 campaign against Rosedale Christian on Nov. 19.