Matt Talarico serves as the infield, baserunning and hitting coach and is also the player development coordinator. He is instrumental in the organization and implementation of individualized development plans for each player, including an emphasis on diet, nutrition and weight lifting.
He is formerly an assistant coach at Dayton, joining the Raider baseball coaching staff in August, 2015.
Since joining the staff, the Raiders have blossomed in his areas. In 2018, the Raiders ranked seventh nationally in stolen bases with 1.96 per game as JD Orr finished tied for fifth at 0.63. WSU set a new school record for stolen bases in 2017 as Zach Weatherford also posted the new individual WSU mark when the team was ranked second nationally. In 2016, Wright State boasted the top two Horizon League base thieves in Mitch Roman and Ryan Fucci. Weatherford led the league in 2017. Fielding has also improved, setting a new team mark in 2016.
While at Dayton during the 2011-15 seasons, Talarico oversaw recruiting as well as hitting, offensive production and baserunning. Under his guidance, the Flyers improved its base running game, setting many school marks and ranking among the nation’s best.
In 2015, Dayton continued their impressive base running under Talarico. The Flyers ranked 14th in the nation in steals per game and 15th in the nation in steals. Senior Robby Sunderman led the team with 21 steals.Â
Talarico, a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, spent one year as Toledo’s volunteer assistant coach overseeing the outfielders as well as assisting with base running and bunting. He also served as the Rockets’ first-base coach and coordinated UT’s baseball camps.
He went to Toledo in 2009 after two highly successful seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Division III Heidelberg in nearby Tiffin, Ohio. During the 2008 and 2009 seasons, the Student Princes posted a combined 78-19 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament each season, winning both the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular season and tournament titles.
Prior to coaching at Heidelberg, Talarico played four seasons at Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana. He helped guide Manchester to a 124-54 record from 2004-07, while claiming two Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Regular Season Championships (2004, 2006) and two tournament titles (2004, 2005). Manchester advanced to the NCAA Regionals on three occasions (2004, 2005, 2006) and made an appearance in the Division III World Series in 2004. In his final season, Talarico was named First Team All-HCAC and Third Team All-Mideast Region.
A graduate of  Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, Talarico earned a bachelor's degree in history from Manchester in 2007. Talarico later continued his studies at Heidelberg and earned a master's of arts in education.
