Feliks Mats
Head Coach
fmats@stu.edu
Saint Thomas (FL)
NAIA
Head Coach
fmats@stu.edu
Saint Thomas (FL)
NAIA
Felix Mats (M.S., 04) has been the Head Mens Soccer Coach at St. Thomas University since March 2006. During his tenure, Coach Mats has managed to transform the Mens Soccer program at STU into an international commodity that attracts top athletes and coaches from around the world. Under Coach Mats, STU Mens Soccer experienced the most successful period in their recent history, winning three consecutive Sun Conference Regular Season titles from 2010-2012. The 2010 season was especially remarkable for Coach Mats and the Bobcats: Not only did the STU Mens Soccer team win The Sun Conference Regular Season title, but they also won The Sun Conference Tournament and reached the NAIA National Championship Opening Round for the first time in program history. In the 2016 season, Coach Mats and the team were able to bring home the hardware yet again, winning The Sun Conference Championship Tournament for the second time in school history. Winning the tournament helped St. Thomas earn a bid to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round for a second time in the program's existence.
Background
Born in Riga, Latvia, Mats began learning the tactics and techniques of European football from a young age. He played in the Riga football school as a youth, the starting point for many Latvian internationals. He was also a member of the Youth Latvian National Players Combine, a highly selective group.
Mats left Latvia to attend Indiana University-Bloomington, graduating in 1999 with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development along with a minor in Psychology. These specializations reflect his coaching style, which is viewed as gaining a true understanding of his players in order to maximize their potential. While working toward the completion of his Bachelors Degree, Mats served as a student assistant for the Indiana University Men's Soccer team from 1996-1998, including the 1997 season in which they reached the semifinal round of the NCAA Division I Mens Soccer Championship.
Mats has been constantly expanding on his coaching experience since graduating from Indiana University. In 2001, he served as a volunteer assistant at NCAA Division II University of Tampa. In 2003, he was the Head Boys Soccer Coach at Miami Beach High School when they reached a regional semifinal. From 2002-2006, he began his career at STU as an Assistant Coach with the Womens Soccer team. During this period, Mats worked on obtaining his Masters Degree in Sports Administration from STU, which he completed in 2004. Additionally, Mats has served as Director of Coaching and Technical Development for the Miami Lakes Soccer Club and coached as a part of the U.S. Olympic Developmental Program (ODP). He is a United States Soccer Federation (USSF A License) and National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) licensed coach.