Ariza Joins Coaching Staff Ahead of Fall Season
8/19/2025 10:47:00 AM | Men's Golf
MACON – Mercer men's golf head coach Jason Payne announced the addition of Matt Ariza to the coaching staff.
"Matt is a perfect fit to join our team," Payne said. "He provides an important layer of coaching for our roster that has four new guys on it."
Ariza is joining the Bears after a two-year coaching stint with Eastern Kentucky. During his time with the Colonels, Ariza saw seven total top-five finishes, 13 total top-ten finishes, a pair of second-place finishes and hoisted the 2024 Colonel Shootout Trophy (EKU's first win since 2018).
"I have a lot of confidence in Matt's coaching abilities, and I have no doubt that he complements what we do," Payne said. "We are fortunate that he is coming in with two years of coaching at a program that got a lot better very quickly with him on the coaching staff."
Before transitioning to coaching, Ariza had a five-year playing career where he spent time at Piedmont and Lamar. While at Piedmont, Ariza helped lead the Lions to a second-place finish in the 2023 NCAA DIII Championship.
"Matt knows what championship golf looks and feels like," Payne said. "We get to utilize his recent experience as a player to motivate and mold our guys to being the best golfers that they can be."
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"Matt is a perfect fit to join our team," Payne said. "He provides an important layer of coaching for our roster that has four new guys on it."
Ariza is joining the Bears after a two-year coaching stint with Eastern Kentucky. During his time with the Colonels, Ariza saw seven total top-five finishes, 13 total top-ten finishes, a pair of second-place finishes and hoisted the 2024 Colonel Shootout Trophy (EKU's first win since 2018).
"I have a lot of confidence in Matt's coaching abilities, and I have no doubt that he complements what we do," Payne said. "We are fortunate that he is coming in with two years of coaching at a program that got a lot better very quickly with him on the coaching staff."
Before transitioning to coaching, Ariza had a five-year playing career where he spent time at Piedmont and Lamar. While at Piedmont, Ariza helped lead the Lions to a second-place finish in the 2023 NCAA DIII Championship.
"Matt knows what championship golf looks and feels like," Payne said. "We get to utilize his recent experience as a player to motivate and mold our guys to being the best golfers that they can be."
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