Wiley University hires Walters as Head Athletic Trainer
Wiley University Director of Athletics Rafael Gonzalez is pleased to announce the hiring of Matthew Walters as head athletic trainer beginning with the 2025-26 athletic season.
Walters will join the Wildcat athletic staff this summer after holding the same position for five years at Ranch View High School in Irving, Texas. Before that, he was an athletic trainer at the University of Texas-Dallas for three years, serving the sports of women's soccer, men's basketball and cheerleading.
"I'm very excited to join the Wildcat family," Walters said. "My wife and I are moving to Hallsville and saw the opening. I had a great conversation with AD Gonzalez. He provided me with an overview of the Department of Athletics. I believe this will be a great place to continue my career."
Wiley has not had a full-time athletic trainer since the fall of 2023. Gonzalez believes the addition of Matthews will enhance the student-athlete experience.
"The addition of Matthews is a major boost to our department," Gonzalez said. "We are an expanding department. This will help our athletes to get the treatment they need to perform at their highest potential and increase the success of our athletic programs."
Softball will be elevated to varsity next season, giving Wiley 13 athletic programs. It has over 250 student-athletes with three programs offering junior varsity teams.
Walters understands what Wiley University athletes have gone through as he was in a similar situation as a high school athlete.
"I didn't have a trainer at my high school," Walters said. "I got my bachelor's in kinesiology and was considering medical school. I was introduced to athletic training, and I found it to be quite enjoyable."
Walters earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas-San Antonio and completed his master's degree at the University of Texas-Arlington. He is married to Baylee, and together they have an 11-month-old son.
For more coverage on Wiley University Athletics visit https://wileyathletics.com/landing/index.
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 12 varsity sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and the Continental Athletic Conference for men's and women's soccer.
About HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.