University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Women's Basketball
Mattio, Kristen
Kristen Mattio
- Title:
- Head Women's Basketball Coach
- Email:
- Kristen.Mattio@unco.edu
- Phone:
- 970.351.1713
Head Coach Kristen Mattio enters her fifth season at the helm of Bears Women’s Basketball. Under Mattio, the Bears are 57-67-52 since she took over the program in 2021. Mattio surpassed the 200th career victory mark in the overtime upset win against Big 12 opponent BYU on Nov. 23, 2024. Mattio is the first head coach to reach this mark at UNC in the Division I era. Under Mattio, the Bears ranked first in the nation in the field goal percentage category for the first time in program history with 51.5% ahead of Texas (SEC) with 51.4%.
Kristen Mattio was announced as the head coach of Northern Colorado women’s basketball on May 8, 2021.
In her first season at UNC, Mattio propelled the Bears to its highest win total since the 2018-19 season and a trip to the conference semifinals.
Boosted by a four-game winning streak to start the month of March, the Bears went 15-16 overall last season and registered a pair of dominating postseason wins. As the No. 8 seed in the Big Sky Tournament a year ago, UNC dispatched Eastern Washington, 64-45, in the opening round and went on to topple No. 1-seeded Idaho State, 72-54, in the quarterfinals.
In addition to the on-court achievements, the team placed eight players on the Winter Academic All-Big Sky list.
Prior to Mattio’s arrival in Greeley, the Nashville, Tennessee, native had spent six seasons as the head coach at West Texas A&M. At the helm of the Lady Buffs program, Mattio compiled a record of 154-35. She became the fastest coach in program history to reach 150 wins by doing so in just 180 games. Mattio secured four Lone Star Conference Titles (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020), took home two LSC Tournament Titles (2018, 2019), and won the South Central Regional Championship in 2017.
Under the direction of Mattio, the Lady Buffs were no stranger to postseason success. West Texas A&M made the Division II NCAA Tournament five of the last six seasons and would’ve made the tournament in 2021 were the bracket not trimmed due to COVID-19.
Her stellar coaching abilities have also been proven at the Division I level. The Lady Buffs have tallied four wins over DI teams during her time on staff, including victories over Big Sky opponents Northern Arizona and Weber State.
The Lady Buffs were just one of two teams in the nation to reach the Elite Eight in three out of the last eight seasons. The 2018 and 2019 Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year also recruited and coached four NCAA All-Americans, the two-time Sixth Woman of the Year and the two-time LSC Player of the Year.
Prior to taking the reins in 2015, Mattio spent two seasons as the top assistant at WT under Mark Kellogg. She helped the Lady Buffs to a National Runner-Up finish in 2013-14 and an Elite Eight appearance in 2014-15.
Before her time in Canyon, Mattio was on staff at Northwest Missouri State where she improved the Bearcats’ win total by nine games.
No stranger to Colorado, Mattio also served as an assistant at Fort Lewis College. There, she helped the Skyhawks to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, won the first NCAA postseason game in school history, reached No. 3 in the nation in three separate years, recruited two NCAA All-Americans and the RMAC Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011 in Dana Schriebvogel who was honored as the Sportswomen of Colorado for team success in 2010 and 2011.
Before assisting the Skyhawks to unprecedented success, Mattio had stops at Austin Peay and at fellow Big Sky member Montana State. With the Governors, she helped two players reach All-Conference honors in the Ohio Valley and during her time in Bozeman, the Bobcats won 23 consecutive home games and finished with the highest RPI in program history at the time.
Mattio graduated from Evangel University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Business and holds a Master’s degree in Wellness Leadership from Austin Peay. The starting point guard and team captain, Mattio was integral in leading Evangel to two NAIA Tournament appearances, three Heart of America Conference titles and one NAIA Division II Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Kristen Mattio was announced as the head coach of Northern Colorado women’s basketball on May 8, 2021.
In her first season at UNC, Mattio propelled the Bears to its highest win total since the 2018-19 season and a trip to the conference semifinals.
Boosted by a four-game winning streak to start the month of March, the Bears went 15-16 overall last season and registered a pair of dominating postseason wins. As the No. 8 seed in the Big Sky Tournament a year ago, UNC dispatched Eastern Washington, 64-45, in the opening round and went on to topple No. 1-seeded Idaho State, 72-54, in the quarterfinals.
In addition to the on-court achievements, the team placed eight players on the Winter Academic All-Big Sky list.
Prior to Mattio’s arrival in Greeley, the Nashville, Tennessee, native had spent six seasons as the head coach at West Texas A&M. At the helm of the Lady Buffs program, Mattio compiled a record of 154-35. She became the fastest coach in program history to reach 150 wins by doing so in just 180 games. Mattio secured four Lone Star Conference Titles (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020), took home two LSC Tournament Titles (2018, 2019), and won the South Central Regional Championship in 2017.
Under the direction of Mattio, the Lady Buffs were no stranger to postseason success. West Texas A&M made the Division II NCAA Tournament five of the last six seasons and would’ve made the tournament in 2021 were the bracket not trimmed due to COVID-19.
Her stellar coaching abilities have also been proven at the Division I level. The Lady Buffs have tallied four wins over DI teams during her time on staff, including victories over Big Sky opponents Northern Arizona and Weber State.
The Lady Buffs were just one of two teams in the nation to reach the Elite Eight in three out of the last eight seasons. The 2018 and 2019 Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year also recruited and coached four NCAA All-Americans, the two-time Sixth Woman of the Year and the two-time LSC Player of the Year.
Prior to taking the reins in 2015, Mattio spent two seasons as the top assistant at WT under Mark Kellogg. She helped the Lady Buffs to a National Runner-Up finish in 2013-14 and an Elite Eight appearance in 2014-15.
Before her time in Canyon, Mattio was on staff at Northwest Missouri State where she improved the Bearcats’ win total by nine games.
No stranger to Colorado, Mattio also served as an assistant at Fort Lewis College. There, she helped the Skyhawks to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, won the first NCAA postseason game in school history, reached No. 3 in the nation in three separate years, recruited two NCAA All-Americans and the RMAC Player of the Year in 2010 and 2011 in Dana Schriebvogel who was honored as the Sportswomen of Colorado for team success in 2010 and 2011.
Before assisting the Skyhawks to unprecedented success, Mattio had stops at Austin Peay and at fellow Big Sky member Montana State. With the Governors, she helped two players reach All-Conference honors in the Ohio Valley and during her time in Bozeman, the Bobcats won 23 consecutive home games and finished with the highest RPI in program history at the time.
Mattio graduated from Evangel University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Business and holds a Master’s degree in Wellness Leadership from Austin Peay. The starting point guard and team captain, Mattio was integral in leading Evangel to two NAIA Tournament appearances, three Heart of America Conference titles and one NAIA Division II Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Women's Walk Recap 2025
Wednesday, July 30
Head Coach Mattio, Neenah George, and London Gamble Post Game Press Conference vs Weber State
Wednesday, May 21
Coach Mattio, Silvia Nativi, and Gabi Fields Post Game Press Conference vs Northern Arizona
Wednesday, May 21
Coach Mattio, London Gamble, and April Rummery-Lamb Post Game Press Conference vs Portland State
Wednesday, May 21
