Matthew S. Margaron joined Hope College in June of 2019 and serves as a chaplain within campus ministries focusing on how faith interacts within leadership, culture, and sport. 

Roles at Hope

• Endowed chaplain of athletics
  
• Center for Leadership teaching team
  
• Unified Hope & Ski/Snowboard Club staff advisor
  
• Following Hope senior group co-leader with Jill Nelson 

Education

• M.A., community counseling, Regent University, 2008
• B.A., psychology and religion, Hope College, 2003

Athletics Background

Matt was a 4x varsity letter winner with the Hope College Men’s Soccer Team from 1999 to 2002 where he was 3x All Conference, 3x All Region, and the Marv Zuidema Award winner for excellence in leadership within athletics and academics. 

Matt has gone on to coach soccer at the youth, club, high school and college levels. Matt also coaches soccer locally with Tulip City United Women's Team and United Soccer Athletes in Holland, Michigan.  

Matt is also the co-founder of the ARC Project which provides free surf camps and water safety training to youth in Florida and Michigan.

Previous Experience

Matt joins the Hope staff after serving in ministry on Young Life staff for nearly 10 years. Prior to working in full-time ministry with Young Life, he worked as a licensed clinical professional counselor specializing in youth, young adult and family counseling.

Why I love Hope

Matt loves Hope College because it is constantly aspiring to be a place of innovation, belonging and growth. The community of Hope is a place where people can come as they are, find a people to belong to and set themselves on a trajectory where they can pursue and fulfill God’s calling on their lives.

Outside the College

Matt’s first passion is spending time with his family. He has been married to his wife, Eli, for 20 years and has two teenage daughters, Emma (18) and Leah (17). Matt loves the outdoors, coaching and broadcasting soccer games, exploring the national parks, traveling around the world, reading a good book or going to see a great movie. When he is not at a Hope game or practice, you may see him cheering on the Chicago Bulls, Bears or Red Stars.