Matthew Kent, a Texas native, enters his first year as the assistant baseball coach at Hill College. Kent brings more than a decade of professional pitching experience and a proven track record of developing athletes. 

Kent’s mission is to build a pitching staff defined by toughness, adaptability, and precision while preparing athletes for success at four-year programs and to the professional leagues. In addition, he oversees pitching development, game strategy, and recruiting. 

Prior to joining Hill College, Kent coached with the Waco Warriors 14U program in McLennan, County, Texas; Live Oak Classical School in Waco, Texas; and D1 Training in Waco, Texas. His coaching philosophy blends biomechanics, pitch design concepts, individualized development plans, and mental-skills training.  

Kent strives to emphasize clarity, accountability, and competitive routines, helping pitchers understand the purpose behind their position and work. 

Kent began his collegiate career at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, where he pitched from 2013–2015 becoming one of the most efficient pitchers in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In 2013, he earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors. During his breakout summer in 2014, he received the Northwoods League Co-Pitcher of the Year and was considered one of the league’s top prospects. In 2015, as a junior, Kent delivered his best performance as an Aggie, going 6-0 with a 3.21 earned run average (ERA) while striking out 43 hitters and walking just four all season—an elite 10.75 K/BB ratio. 

In the 2015 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, Kent was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round. Between 2015 and 2021, he advanced through the Red Sox system to a Triple-A (AAA) status in the Minor League Baseball (MiLB), earning several honors along the way.  

Honors included a High-A Carolina League All-Star in 2016, Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2016, an AA Eastern League All-Star in 2018, a Rawlings Minor Gold Glove Award in 2019, and a Led Red Sox minor leagues in innings pitched in both 2016 and 2018.  

In 2022, Kent signed with the Miami Marlins, competing at the MiLB AAA level before moving overseas to pitch for the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in Taiwan for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, during which he earned another All-Star Team honor. 

Kent holds a bachelor’s degree in sports management from Texas A&M University.