On his 40th birthday today, Magnolia Coast Sports tips its cap to Matt Riser, a Mississippi-bred baseball mind whose journey from small-town standout to Division I head coach has been nothing short of remarkable. Known for his energy, sharp baseball intellect, and ability to build winners, Riser remains one of the most respected coaches in the college game — and a proud product of Picayune, Mississippi, being born in New Orleans but raised in Picayune.
Riser first made waves at Picayune Memorial High School, where he starred as a cerebral infielder and field general for the Maroon Tide graduating in 2002. During his time with the Maroon Tide, he shared the infield with future big leaguer Rhyne Hughes. His leadership and baseball IQ were evident early, and he quickly emerged as one of South Mississippi’s top high school prospects. After graduation, he stayed close to home, joining the powerhouse program at Pearl River Community College. Under legendary coach Jay Artigues, Riser continued to grow as both a player and student of the game and Riser was a big part of PRCC winning the MACCC State Title his sophomore season.
His next stop was down the road at Tulane, where he became a key contributor on one of the greatest teams in Green Wave history. Riser helped lead Tulane to the 2005 College World Series, a milestone season that saw the Wave reach Omaha as one of the top-ranked teams in the nation.
After graduating from Tulane in 2006 Riser hung up his cleats and went into coaching taking a grad assistant position with the Green Wave in 2007. In 2008 he was hired to be an assistant under his old college coach Jay Artigues at Southeastern Louisiana. By 2014, at just 30 years old, Riser took over as head coach of the Lions, becoming one of the youngest Division I skippers in the country and replacing one of his coaching mentors Jay Artigues, who would take the Athletic Director job at Southeastern Louisiana.
During his nine seasons in Hammond, Riser turned Southeastern into a perennial Southland Conference contender. His teams were aggressive, disciplined, and built to compete with anyone — even the SEC’s best. Riser led the Lions to four NCAA Regional appearances, multiple 35+ win seasons, and a Southland Conference Championship in 2014. Under his watch, SLU became a hotbed for MLB Draft picks and quietly evolved into one of the best mid-major programs in the country.
In 2024, Riser accepted the head coaching job at the University of Memphis, bringing his championship pedigree to a Tigers program hungry for relevance. In just two seasons, he’s already begun reshaping the program’s culture — elevating recruiting, improving in-state relationships, and steering Memphis toward consistent postseason contention in the American Athletic Conference.
Through every chapter — from the fields of Picayune to the dugouts of Hammond and Memphis — Riser has remained grounded in his Mississippi roots, carrying with him the lessons learned from small-town grit, community-driven ball, and the value of player development. His resume speaks for itself, but it’s his relational coaching style, passion for the game, and commitment to doing things the right way that have earned him admiration across the country.
As he celebrates another birthday, Matt Riser’s legacy continues to grow — not just as a winner, but as a leader who represents the very best of Mississippi baseball.
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