Matt Barany, GB '14

Most professional MBA programs have their share of engineers, consultants and financial analysts among their student bodies. Almost none have swim coaches.

As the head coach of the University of Richmond Women’s Swim team, Matt Barany, GB ’14, brings a unique background to The Richmond MBA. A six-time winner of the Atlantic-10 Women’s Coach of the Year award, Barany has led the Spiders to eight conference championships in his nine years at Richmond. A gifted motivator, he has also coached five Olympic trial qualifiers.

It was not until 2010, 15 years after earning a B.A. in English from James Madison University, that Barany resumed his education through The Richmond MBA.

“I had been at the University for four years and we had won a championship each year until that one,” he shared. “During that year the team and I took some time to address our personal fears. I came to realize I’d delayed a lot of things up to that point, including earning an MBA.”

It was conversations with the undergraduates he was coaching that finally persuaded him to apply. “The team really encouraged me, and in the end they were the ones that gave me the final burst of energy I needed to go for it,” he noted.

Barany originally assumed his swimming career would end after his time as a swimmer at James Madison University. “I never thought I’d be in my 40s and still have a relationship with the sport, but I am still mesmerized by the water. In swimming most of the hard work is done in solitude.” He further explained, “Education is so important to me, and swimming just happens to be the subject I get to share with others.”

“One of the most rewarding parts of The Richmond MBA has been working with the professors and students,” Barany shared. “I’ve made good friends here. As someone who works with a team everyday, I’ve been able to add to the group culture, and my leadership skills have been enhanced by the program.”

Barany’s fellow MBA students remarked on his contributions as a peer and friend to their experiences.

“Matt is a natural leader,” said Brian Blaylock, GB ’14. “When twenty of us went to Budapest, Hungary for The Richmond MBA International Residency last year, Matt became the face of our group. He encouraged us to explore parts of the city we wouldn’t have seen otherwise, organized our social outings and ensured that we all represented the University well. Because of Matt, the International Residency is the highlight of my educational career.”

Ben Eubanks, GB ’13, added, “He motivates, persuades and negotiates with his team everyday to inspire great performances from his swimmers. He brought that same manager’s perspective into our classroom.”  

Kendree Thieringer, GB ’13, said, “He is an asset to every class he’s in. He always shared thought-provoking perspectives that kept the conversation going. I’ve really enjoyed his sense of humor and friendship both inside and outside of class.”

Barany reflected, “The lessons I’ve learned here have been invaluable. Understanding the incentives behind why people act the way they do, or why a leader would make a certain choice has given me the backstory to a lot of decisions I’ve witnessed over the years. The education I’ve been able to receive here has far exceeded my expectations and has been a huge growth opportunity for me. The Richmond MBA has changed who I am. It’s changed the way I view the world.”

In May, the MBA Alumni Society selected Barany as the Outstanding Graduate of the Year. The award was presented by Judith Schrempf-Stirling, who nominated Barany after having him in her classes.