Keynotes
- Erin Matson and Ben Casparius are a power couple in the world of college and professional sports.
- Matson is the head field hockey coach at the University of North Carolina, leading the Tar Heels to five straight national titles.
- Casparius is a pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system, steadily climbing toward the major leagues.
When it comes to athletic accomplishments, Erin Matson and Ben Casparius are a true power couple.
Matson, the head field hockey coach at the University of North Carolina, has guided the Tar Heels to an impressive five straight national titles.
Meanwhile, Casparius, a pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ minor league system, is steadily climbing the ranks toward the big leagues.
A Supportive Power Couple
Despite their demanding schedules, the two have managed to maintain a long-distance relationship.
Casparius returns to Chapel Hill in the fall to support Matson’s team and get in some off-season training.
“We make it work,” Casparius says of their relationship.
Matson, who was hired as head coach in January 2023 at just 23 years old, is the youngest Division I coach in collegiate sports.
She credits her strong relationships with her players as a key factor in her success.
“They’ve had that same attitude ever since. We have that foundation of a relationship.
So, then it’s, ‘O.K., I’m not taking time to check in on how you’re doing because I don’t know. I’m taking time to check in on how you’re doing because I know who you are as a person, and I can read the situation and I’m here for you.'”
A Rising Star In The Minors
Casparius, a 2017 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year and former UConn standout has also seen his career take off.
After the Dodgers selected him as a fifth-round draft pick in 2021, he has steadily climbed through their minor league system, recently earning a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
His fastball has been clocking in at 98-99 mph, and he’s added new pitches to his repertoire, including a curveball and two-seam fastball.
“Every single level you go through in professional baseball, you’re going to hit your bump,” Casparius says.
“But I realized, you’re kind of limited, mobility-wise, so let’s take a step back in the weight room and make sure we’re staying strong in the right areas.”
While Casparius is knocking on the door of the major leagues, Matson has already made history as one of the youngest head coaches in Division I.
But she’s not doing it alone, leaning on the guidance of her predecessor, the legendary Karen Shelton, who coached the Tar Heels for 42 seasons.
“To be able to say I’m the only head coach who’s actually gone through it as a player is definitely a draw,” Matson says of the name, image, and likeness landscape.
“It’s not like we’re at the level of football and basketball—which I’m grateful for—but it’s figuring out that balance and then using it as an advantage when we’re having recruiting conversations.”
