University of Findlay

William Matthews, a 1996 graduate, was an 11-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American honoree, four times for individual events and seven times as a relay team member. Matthews and his teammates were the first Oilers to earn All-America status in an outdoor relay event, the 4x400 meter and 4x100 meter relays in 1994 and 1995. To further demonstrate his talent, Matthews was also All-America both years in the 400-meter dash. Matthews earned All-America recognition indoors in 1994, 1995, and 1996 in the mile relay.

In 1996 at the NAIA Indoor Championships, Matthews’ relay finished fourth while individually he placed third in the 400-meter dash and fifth in the 200-meter dash. Matthews had a hand in 15 of the Oilers’ 30 points leading UF to a fifth-place team finish, their highest ever at a national championship event. A two-time Mid-Ohio Conference (MOC) Champion and All-District 22 Champion, Findlay won those meets all four years of Matthews’ career. He held the UF record in the 400-meter dash for 16 years and is currently third on the all-time list and fourth in the 200-meter day. Matthews certainly fulfiller his motto of “go hard or go home.” He was named Man of the Year by the Black Student Union and received the Mancuso Award in 1996 as the top UF male student-athlete that year. Matthews resides in Coconut Creek, Fla., and has one child, Evan William Matthews. He is the owner of The Career Consultant and serves as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.