Matt Spencer is in his second season as head coach of the X-Women Basketball program, having taken the helm in May, 2022. He has been coaching basketball for over two decades, most recently as an assistant coach with the women’s team at OUA’s Laurentian University for the past two years. From 2013 to 2020, he ascended from volunteer assistant coach to full-time associate head coach with the Calgary Dinos women’s program in the Canada West conference. His expanded role helped establish the Dinos as a perennial championship contender, including two appearances at the U SPORTS national championship. Spencer also played a key role in player development, community and alumni relations, recruitment, academic success programs, and overseeing the Dinos annual summer camp. Matt spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Western University as well.

In addition to his U SPORTS coaching experience, Spencer has been heavily involved in youth development, including serving as co-head coach of Canada Basketball’s Targeted Athlete Strategy program in Calgary in 2016 and 2017. His passion for coaching began in his hometown of Antigonish, N.S. as an assistant coach of the local high school girls team. Aside from his coaching experience, Spencer comes to STFX as a distinguished academic, having completed a PhD in Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology from Western University, as well as four postdoctoral fellowships.

Spencer received his MSc degree from the University of Saskatchewan and graduated from STFX in 2001 with a BSc Human Kinetics degree with distinction.