Colorado State University Athletics
Former CSU Coach Mattos to be Inducted into Colorado Swimming Hall of Fame
1/27/2020 2:25:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The impact John Mattos had on swimming at Colorado State was immediate and long lasting, guiding the women's program for more than three decades.
As a result, he's been inducted into the CSU Athletic Hall of Fame, joined the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in September of 2019 and is now being recognized by the Colorado Swimming Hall of Fame, one of three people entering as part of the 2020 class.
Mattos, who was a four-time All-American as a swimmer at Colorado State, coached the Rams' women for 31 seasons, compiling a 221-113 record in dual meets. His women's teams won six conference titles as those rosters boasted 35 swimmers who collected 95 conference championships, as well as 38 conference relay titles. His 1994 team, led by NCAA 50-yard champion Amy Van Dyken, placed 12 as a team, the best finish in CSU history. In all, seven of his teams scored points at the NCAA Championships. Eight of his women swimmers were academic All-Americans.
Current CSU coach Christopher Woodard was an assistant for Mattos before taking over the program for the 2011-12, said Mattos' has had a positive influence in the sport statewide.
"I think when he took over, he started to do things that coaches in the 90s, 2000s and beyond took for granted," Woodard said. "He was big in terms of dryland, he was a pretty aggressive recruiter and he would preach very much to his team about the mental aspect of the sport and developing those skills so they would race at a high level, and developed a culture which really valued that.
"Now having been in seat, that's not an easy job. That's very, very difficult, and he did it for a long time with a high degree of success. I think every college program in the state, and every opportunity women have in the state, we owe him a great deal of respect and gratitude."
Mattos will be inducted along with Olympic gold medalists Missy Franklin and Clark Smith at a banquet held March 14 at the Cable Center on the University of Denver Campus. To attend, or learn more about the event, visit here. Rowdy Gaines will serve as the event's Master of Ceremonies.
As a result, he's been inducted into the CSU Athletic Hall of Fame, joined the American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame in September of 2019 and is now being recognized by the Colorado Swimming Hall of Fame, one of three people entering as part of the 2020 class.
Mattos, who was a four-time All-American as a swimmer at Colorado State, coached the Rams' women for 31 seasons, compiling a 221-113 record in dual meets. His women's teams won six conference titles as those rosters boasted 35 swimmers who collected 95 conference championships, as well as 38 conference relay titles. His 1994 team, led by NCAA 50-yard champion Amy Van Dyken, placed 12 as a team, the best finish in CSU history. In all, seven of his teams scored points at the NCAA Championships. Eight of his women swimmers were academic All-Americans.
Current CSU coach Christopher Woodard was an assistant for Mattos before taking over the program for the 2011-12, said Mattos' has had a positive influence in the sport statewide.
"I think when he took over, he started to do things that coaches in the 90s, 2000s and beyond took for granted," Woodard said. "He was big in terms of dryland, he was a pretty aggressive recruiter and he would preach very much to his team about the mental aspect of the sport and developing those skills so they would race at a high level, and developed a culture which really valued that.
"Now having been in seat, that's not an easy job. That's very, very difficult, and he did it for a long time with a high degree of success. I think every college program in the state, and every opportunity women have in the state, we owe him a great deal of respect and gratitude."
Mattos will be inducted along with Olympic gold medalists Missy Franklin and Clark Smith at a banquet held March 14 at the Cable Center on the University of Denver Campus. To attend, or learn more about the event, visit here. Rowdy Gaines will serve as the event's Master of Ceremonies.
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