Matt Palm appointed athletic director
“Matt brings a high level of enthusiasm and energy, as well as respect from his peers both at Heidelberg and throughout the Ohio Athletic Conference,” stated Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Jim Troha, who also oversees athletics.
Palm recently served as Heidelberg’s associate athletic director for the 2007-08 academic year. Palm worked closely with the athletic teams’ budgets, student work study employment, facility scheduling and game management. Along with Sheldon, he implemented the successful ’Berg Pride program to increase fan attendance and enthusiasm for athletics at Heidelberg. Palm also was a strong contributor to student-athletes’ award recognition and the Alumni H-Association.
“I look forward to my new role within the Heidelberg community,” stated Palm. “There are a lot of great things in place and I look forward to carrying the momentum into the future.”
Palm has a history of success at Heidelberg with the baseball program and will look to carry his enthusiasm over to the entire athletic department. Guiding the baseball program, Palm has amassed an overall record of 266-129-2, which included a 41-10 season in 2008. He has guided the Berg to Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season Championships in 2003, 2007 and 2008 and the OAC Tournament title in 2004 and 2008. The Berg has made two trips to the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional, most recently this year, where the team made an appearance in the regional championship game.
Palm has brought a tradition of championship-caliber teams to Heidelberg. Twenty-four single-season records and 17 career records are held by student-athletes who played under his guidance. In that time, Palm has coached three OAC Players of the Year (Aaron Fischer, 2000; Jon Hatfield, 2003; and A.J. Schlea, 2006), one OAC Pitcher of the Year (Bill Sheets, 2002), had 13 players honored as Academic All-OAC First Team members and 29 All-OAC First Team performers. He has also coached two All-Americans in first team honoree Schlea (2006) and second team recipient Hatfield (2003).
He joined Heidelberg after spending one year as an assistant baseball coach at Indiana University in Bloomington, and was an assistant coach with Emory University. The Eagles advanced into the NCAA Regionals every season he was with the program.
Under Palm’s guidance, an emphasis within the Heidelberg athletic department will be placed on the overall experience that all student-athletes receive while attending the Berg. “It is important that every student-athlete has a great four years on campus. As a department we will strive to allow all student-athletes to get a great education, while being involved in not only the Heidelberg community, but in the Tiffin community, while gaining valuable experience on the athletic fields.”
Palm is a native of Orrville, Ohio, and is a graduate of Smithville High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from the College of Wooster and his master's degree from Georgia State University. He resides in Tiffin with his wife Michelle, two sons, Samuel and Nicholas, and daughter, Cecilia.
“Continuing to build the athletic department at Heidelberg provides a great opportunity for my family as well,” stated Palm. “My family was born and raised in Tiffin and look to Heidelberg as a great community.”