DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman head baseball coach Jonathan Hernandez has announced the addition of Matt Swiderski to the Wildcats' coaching staff as the program's Director of Analytics and Player Development.
Swiderski brings more than a decade of experience across collegiate baseball, professional scouting, player development and baseball technology to Daytona Beach. His extensive background includes collegiate coaching stops at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Daytona State College, professional scouting experience with the Cincinnati Reds, and work with advanced baseball analytics and technology.
In his new role with the Wildcats, Swiderski will oversee the program's analytics and player-development initiatives, utilizing data, technology and scouting information to help Bethune-Cookman student-athletes maximize their performance both individually and collectively.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Matt to Bethune-Cookman," Hernandez said. "What stood out to me about Matt is that he understands that analytics are not just numbers on a page. They are another tool we can use to help our players understand their game, identify areas for improvement and ultimately become better baseball players."
"Matt has a tremendous background in coaching, scouting and player development, and he has a unique ability to take information and turn it into something our players can use," Hernandez added. "That is going to be extremely valuable for our program as we continue to raise the standard of Bethune-Cookman baseball."
Swiderski joins the Wildcats following one season as an assistant baseball coach at Embry-Riddle, where he gained more experience working directly with student-athletes on an NCAA baseball staff. He also currently serves as an associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds, providing him with continued experience evaluating talent and identifying the tools and traits that translate to success at the professional level.
His coaching background extends throughout the state of Florida. Swiderski spent more than six seasons as an assistant coach at Daytona State, while also serving as the head coach of the Leesburg Lightning in the Florida Collegiate Summer League since 2020.
While coaching the Lightning, Swiderski was responsible for recruiting collegiate student-athletes, developing players and preparing teams to compete for a championship. His experience has allowed him to work with players from a variety of collegiate backgrounds while helping them improve their skills and pursue opportunities at the next level.
Swiderski's experience with baseball technology and data also dates back to his time with ScoutCast Baseball, where he worked as a technician and data analyst for FlightScope and ScoutCast systems. He previously worked as a baseball scout with Prospectwire, scouting tournaments throughout the country, producing detailed scouting reports and evaluating players with collegiate and professional potential.
That combination of technology, scouting and coaching will be central to his role with the Wildcats.
"Player development is something I am extremely passionate about, and I am excited for the opportunity to bring that passion to Bethune-Cookman," Swiderski said. "There is so much information available to players and coaches today, and my goal is to help our student-athletes understand that information and use it to become better players."
"I want to help create an environment where our players are constantly learning, constantly competing and constantly looking for ways to improve," Swiderski continued. "The opportunity to work alongside Coach Hernandez and the rest of the staff, while helping Bethune-Cookman continue to build its baseball program, is something I am incredibly excited about."
Swiderski's arrival represents another step in Bethune-Cookman's continued investment in modern player development and technology. As analytics continue to play an increasingly important role throughout professional and collegiate baseball, the Wildcats are positioning themselves at the forefront of that evolution within HBCU baseball.
"Bethune-Cookman has always been a program that should be competing at the highest level, and we want to give our players every opportunity to reach their potential," Hernandez said. "Adding someone with Matt's experience and expertise is a major piece of that vision. We want to be innovative, we want to be aggressive in our approach to player development, and we want our players to leave here better than when they arrived."
Swiderski earned a master's degree in College Athletic Administration from Coker University in 2020 after previously earning a bachelor's degree in Sports Management from Coker. He began his collegiate career at Daytona State, where he earned an associate degree in Business Administration and Management and was a member of the baseball program.
His baseball experience also includes four-plus seasons as a clubhouse assistant with the St. Lucie Mets, providing him with an early introduction to professional baseball operations and player development.
With experience spanning youth and collegiate baseball, professional scouting, advanced technology and player development, Swiderski brings a broad perspective to a Bethune-Cookman program continuing to build toward its next chapter.
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