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Rider University Athletics

Rider Broncs
The Official Website of Rider University Athletics
Smith, Lynaisha

Matt Siley

Siley first joined the Rider coaching staff ahead of the 2021-22 season.

In 4 years, Siley has coached athletes to 20 individual MAAC titles, 4 qualifications to the NCAA East Preliminary Round, 45 Top-10 marks in Rider history, 3 Rider records, 1 MAAC Championship Record, and 2 Dominican Republic National Championships Silver Medals.

In 2024-25, Siley's jumpers enjoyed great success with Michael Palmer taking home both the indoor and outdoor MAAC Championship Field Performer of the Meet Awards.  Palmer's season was highlighted with MAAC titles in the men's high jump both indoor and outdoor (2.06m/2.05) as well as the outdoor triple jump title (15.08m).  His jump of 2.10m at the Sam Howell Invitational qualified him for the NCAA East Preliminary Round where he finished 26th.  Savanna Marcantonio won the MAAC outdoor high jump title (1.69m) while Mariah Stephens brought home the indoor long jump MAAC title with a school record jump of 6.05m. In the pole vault, Gabby Vetere broke the indoor school record with a vault of 3.88m at the Scarlet Knight Open.  Internationally, the Broncs were represented by Raisa Palleija as the senior took home second in the Dominican Republic National Championships for the long jump.

In 2023-24, the Broncs' jumpers found a great deal of success. Zach Manorowitz brought home the MAAC outdoor long jump title (7.42m) and was the runner up in the championship sections of the historic Penn Relays (7.20m).  Mariah Stephens captured both the outdoor long jump (5.89m) and outdoor triple jump (11.75m) titles while Savanna Marcantonio won the outdoor high jump title (1.62m) and Michael Palmer won the outdoor triple jump title (14.00m).  Palmer's triple jump performance coupled with his silver medal in the high jump (1.98m) earned him the MAAC Championship Field Performer of the Meet.  Raisa Palleija represented her country at the 2024 Dominican Republic Olympic Trials where she placed 2nd in the long jump.

In 2022-23, Siley served as a volunteer assistant tasked with working with the horizontal jumps group and sent 2 athletes to the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Florida.  Zach Manorowitz and Raisa Palleija's season best marks of 7.64m and 6.13m earned them both qualifications to the NCAA prelims.  Palleija's mark was the Rider record in the event and marked the first woman at Rider to eclipse 20'.  Siley's MAAC champions included Mariah Stephens in the indoor and outdoor triple jump (11.67m/11.90m) and Zach Manorowitz in the indoor long jump (7.23m).  Palleija earned a spot at the 2023 U23 NACAC Championships representing the Dominican Republic where she placed 8th and was a finalist amongst several NCAA All-Americans.

In 2021-22, Siley began his career at Rider as a volunteer assistant tasked with developing the horizontal jumps group.  Zach Manorowitz had an electrifying sophomore campaign including winning the indoor and outdoor MAAC long jump titles (7.46m/7.64m).  Zach's 7.64m leap at the outdoor championships earned him the MAAC Championship Record as well.  After winning the famed IC4A long jump title (7.43m), he earned a bid at the 2023 NCAA East Preliminary Round.   Freshman Mariah Stephens won both the long and triple jumps at the MAAC indoor championships with jumps of 5.63m and 11.72m.  At the MAAC outdoor championships, Siley led the women's triple jumpers to a 1-2-3 performance with Mariah Stephens (12.02m), Wisdom Maddox (11.75m), and Samantha Butler (11.72m) bringing home an important 24 team points.  Stephens' performances earned her the MAAC Championship Performer of the Meet at the indoor championships and Field Rookie of the Meet at both indoor and outdoor championships.

Siley is an alum of the Rider Track & Field program having completed an M.B.A. in business administration in 2023 and a B.S.B.A. in marketing and international business in 2021.  He was a conference scorer in the long jump, triple jump, and javelin.  He currently holds a USTFCCCA Jumps Specialist Certification and a USATF Level 1 Certification.