Bio

A former player for the Generals (1999), Matt Lee returned to his alma mater in 2003 to serve as Head Men’s Basketball Coach. The 2023-24 basketball season will be his 20th with the program.

In 2019-2020, the Generals made their 7th appearance at the NJCAA Division III National Tournament in the past 8 years, finishing 5th in the Nation.

Coach Lee led the Generals to the 2019 NJCAA Division III National Championship for the second time in program history and was named the 2019 NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball Coach of the Year. The 2019 squad finished with a record of 31-1 and ended the season on a 28-game winning streak to claim the National Title.

Since 2003, Lee has twelve regional finals appearances, seven Region III Championships (2010, 2013, 2014 ,2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019), eight Mountain Valley Conference Championships (2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 ,2016, 2017, 2019), and two 3rd place, three 4th place, one 5th place finish and one 7th place finish at Nationals. The 2020 team received an At-Large bid to the National Championships and finished the season with a 23-8 record.

Under Lee’s guidance, the Generals have a record of 428-121. Lee also is the Coordinator of Physical Education and Athletics in Herkimer's Athletic Department and an adjunct professor, teaching non-majors basketball.

In 2017, Coach Lee was named CCBNY Junior College Coach of the Year.  In 2007, he received the prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service. Lee has been named Region III Coach of the Year twice, in '07 and '10, along with Mountain Valley Coach of the Year in '09 and '10. In 2010, Lee was named BCNY NY State Men's Junior College Coach of the Year. In 2008, Lee was named a Division III National Representative to the NJCAA Basketball Coaches Association's Executive Counsel.

Lee previously worked under legendary coach Tom Murphy at Hamilton College, where he was the head junior varsity basketball coach and assisted with the varsity team. While at Hamilton, he was also the head golf coach. Lee coached varsity basketball at Whitesboro High School and junior varsity baseball at Holland Patent High School. Lee was an All-State athlete at Holland Patent High School where he was a four-year starter on the varsity basketball team and recorded over 800 points and 800 rebounds. Prior to coaching at Herkimer, he guided a Tri-Valley League All-Star team to back-to-back tournament championships in the prestigious Zebra Classic.

Coach Lee is a resident of Utica, NY. He and his wife Kim have a daughter Jordan, and sons Matthew and Jaydan.