Matthew Margaron

Matthew Margaron joined the campus ministries team in the summer of 2019 as the newly endowed chaplain of athletics. Matt serves and cares for the entire athletic community at Hope College, including the 550+ student-athletes, 17 full time coaches and over 50 assistant coaches.

The mission of the athletics ministry is to provide students the opportunity to encounter God through the integration of faith and sport. Matt and his volunteer team accomplish this mission through prayer, mentoring students, faith formation/exploration, leadership development, and local and international opportunities for service.

Matt also teaches a class on applied Lleadership as a part of the leadership minor here at Hope.

Education

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

Awards & Hope Athletic Career

Matt was a 4x varsity letter winner with the Hope College Men’s Soccer Team from 1999 to 2002.

• 3x All-MIAA Conference Soccer Player
• 2x NSCAA All Great Lakes Regional Soccer Player
• 2002 Dr. Marvin A. Zuidema Award Winner for contribution to team play, leadership qualities, demonstration of ethical virtues, and excellence in athletics and academics.

Matt has also coached soccer at the youth, high school, club and college levels.

Previous Experience

Matt joins the Hope staff after serving in ministry on Young Life staff for nearly 10 years. He still serves Young Life as a part of their national training team specializing in training staff from around the country in counseling and emotionally healthy ministry practices. 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 of the beauty of the community that exists at Hope. It truly is a place where people have the opportunity to grow.

Outside the College

Matt’s first passion is spending time with his family. He has been married to his wife, Eli, for 15 years and has two middle-school daughters, Emma (14) and Leah (12). Matt loves the outdoors, exploring the national parks, traveling around the world and reading a good book. He is a huge fan of Hope Athletics. When he is not at a Hope game, you may see him cheering on the Chicago Bulls, Bears or Red Stars.