Elon’s Tim Sweeney Named Head Coach at Hobart College

ELON, N.C. – Elon University men’s basketball associate head coach Tim Sweeney has been named the new head coach at Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y., Sweeney announced on Tuesday, August 5. A 2003 graduate of the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., Sweeney has been a member of Matt Matheny’s staff at Elon for the last five seasons.

“Tim Sweeney is ready for the next step in his career and we are thrilled Hobart feels the same way,” Matheny said. “Tim has played a key role in the growth of our program over the last five years. He is extremely hard working and detail oriented in addition to being an intelligent basketball coach. Tim is ready to run his own program and we wish him the very best.”

The Phoenix has compiled 77 wins over the last five seasons, including a 21-win campaign in 2012-13 en route to the Southern Conference North Division title and the school’s first postseason appearance at the Division I level.

“My time at Elon has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Sweeney said.” “The program is in an exciting and great place moving forward into the Colonial Athletic Association with a great group of young men who are committed to being the best they can be. I have been fortunate to work with such great people during my stay here.”

Last season, Sweeney helped Elon to an 18-14 record, including an 11-5 mark against league competition. The team’s eight-game winning streak tied the 2012-13 and 2005-06 teams for the longest winning streak during Elon’s Division I era. Elon finished the year with four 1,000-point scorers on its roster in Lucas Troutman, Jack Isenbarger, Sebastian Koch and Ryley Beaumont, becoming only the third school in the nation to accomplish such a feat. Elon ended the year ranked first in the conference in free throw percentage (87th nationally) at 72.3 percent and second in the league (34th nationally) in threes per game at 8.0.

Sweeney also has coaching stints at Bucknell University (2008-09), Davidson College (2006-08) and Rochester (2003-06).

During his playing days at Rochester, Sweeney was a four-year All-UAA guard and team captain as both a junior and senior. He helped lead his teams to a combined 77-30 record along with a trip to the Division III Final Four in 2002 and the Sweet 16 in 2003. He ranks among the top-10 in school history in assists, three-point field goals and free throw percentage. Sweeney was also a three-time UAA All-Academic Team member and served as vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He graduated cum laude with a degree in political science in 2003.

Hobart College is a member of NCAA Division III and competes in the Liberty League. Sweeney is replacing Mike Neer, who retired this past season after 37 years as the head coach of the Statesmen. Hobart finished 22-7 last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship.