SAN FRANCISCO – Looking to bolster the coaching staff for the 2017 season, Academy of Art baseball head coach Dan McDermott recently announced the hiring of Assistant Coach Matt Kavanaugh.
 
"We're very fortunate to have a coach like Matt joining our staff especially filling such a need midseason," said McDermott. "Matt is a bay area fixture and has great experience and knowledge of the game. The players love him, he meshes well will the staff, and we look forward to having him around for a long time to come."  
 
Kavanaugh began his prep career at De La Salle High School in Concord before graduating and spending time with four different teams while playing collegiately: University of the Pacific (2004), Butte Junior College (2005), SF State (2006-2008) and also competed on a nationally-renowned summer league team called the Marysville Gold Sox.
 
Kavanaugh then took his talents to the professional arena from 2008-2014. During that time, he played for the Reno Silver Sox (Nev.), Victoria Seals (British Columbia), Calgary Vipers (Alberta, Canada), Na Koa (Maui, Hawaii), Scottsdale Centennials (Ariz.), and the San Rafael Pacifics (Calif.).
 
After his playing days, he began his coaching career which included stints with Cal State East Bay and Los Medanos Junior College. For the next five years, he served as the head assistant coach at Clayton Valley Charter High School and also spent two years managing his former team, the San Rafael Pacifics.
 
Now, as a part of the ART U coaching staff, Kavanaugh will look to help guide the Urban Knights to their most successful season in program history.
 
"I am grateful for the opportunity to coach for Academy of Art," said Kavanaugh. "Coaching at the collegiate level has been a dream of mine for a long time; I look forward to working with and learning from Coach McDermott as well as sharing my knowledge and experience of the game with our players."