Meet a Colleague: Mat Rapoza ’03 Mat Rapoza ’03 serves as the football team's assistant coach and offensive coordinator.

W&L News Office
March 12, 2025

Q. How long have you worked at W&L?
I’ve been working at W&L for almost three years.

Q. What do you like most about working at W&L?
The family environment. My sons are able to come to campus after school, over holidays and on breaks, and it allows me to have a great work/life balance.

Q. Where is your favorite location on the W&L campus?
Possibly fireside with a milkshake in fall when the leaves are turning. Overlooking Wilson Field, you can see the back end of campus draped in front of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Go sit in one of the rockers with a fire going in a pit and a football game below. You just can’t beat that scene.

Q. Where did you grow up?
The Outer Banks in North Carolina. I definitely love that laid back, beach bum vibe.

Q. What advice do you have for students?
Take advantage of each day. There is an opportunity to make an impact each day – big or small.

Q. What is the most adventurous thing that you have ever done?
Quit my job to come to W&L and coach football. That or snorkeling in Barbados.

Q. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
Spend time with family. I’m a big movie guy. I love the anxiety of watching horror movies, but I’m a fan of a lot of different genres.

Q. If you could live anywhere, where would you build your dream home?
Near the water, preferably by the ocean, a bay or a lake (in that order). I have the design all done in my head. I should’ve been an architect!

Q. Who most inspires you?
My family – wife and sons. They help me want to be the best man I can be.

Q. What music are you listening to these days?
I’m all over the place – ALL OVER THE PLACE! I just looked and the last artists I’ve listened to on Spotify are Scar Symmetry (Technical Death Metal), Jack Johnson (Beach Vibes), Zac Brown Band (Country with some Beach Vibes), Black Label Society (Grunge Metal), Alice in Chains (90’s Seattle Grunge) and Bluegrass Christmas Music (obvious). Basically, anything that isn’t pop.

Q. What is your favorite film (movie) of all time?
I have too many to list really. A short attempt at it would be “Jaws, ” “Hereditary,” “Spaceballs,” “Seven,” and “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” The list could just go on and on.

Q. What is the website you visit most often and why?
Probably X (Twitter) for recruiting or Footballscoop for business news in the world of football. However, I also love IMDB – anything to gain an edge in movie trivia!

Q. If they made a movie about your life, who would play you?
Maybe the heavier Chris Pratt at his “fullest,” not the cut up, super hero version. Let’s say the “Parks and Rec” version.

Q. Which historical figure do you most identify with and why?
That’s a loaded question. To be honest, I don’t truly identify with any historical figure. Historical figures are historical figures for a reason – typically a great reason (good or bad). Not sure if I’ve done anything to that magnitude. I am just trying to be my best – to be a good husband, good father, good Christian, good coach and employee, good friend and a good neighbor.

Q. If you could have coffee with one person, who would it be and why?
My dad – I miss him.

Q. What is your desert island food?
TRUE Southern BBQ. Brisket smoked with white oak for 14+ hours low and slow and seasoned with just some salt and pepper. It needs to have a good bark and smoke ring – pull apart, cut pencil thin – just the right amount of stretch. I’d also select greens with pulled pork, corn pudding, jalapeno cornbread, pickled onions and cucumbers, smoked sausage (spicier the better), full hog chopped – Eastern Carolina style (no ketchup based sauce). Throw in a good Mac N Cheese with smoked Gouda and any type of slaw. Maybe add a slice of wonder bread or two as a vehicle to get this smorgasbord efficiently ingested. I hear (wrestling coach) Nathan Shearer is a pretty good guy to get some of this done. Think I can find all this on an island?

Q. Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I’m pretty much an open book – I’m not sure if there are any secrets.

Q. What is your secret talent?
Maybe ability to quote movies at the wrong time?

Q. Anything else you’d like to share?
I love being here and feel like I have my dream job. As an alum and former football player, I’m so proud of the fact that my wife and sons get to be a part of this as well.