Matt Oclander was named the PLU Head Women's Rowing Coach in the summer of 2024.
Under Oclander's direction the Lutes qualified for the 2025 NCAA Division III Championships for the first time since 2022 with the squad placing eighth in the nation at the regatta held in West Windsor, New Jersey. Oclander was named the CRCA Pacific Region Coach of the Year while his staff was tabbed the CRCA Pacific Region Staff of the Year. He coached boats that won Northwest Conference Crew of the Week honors three times during the 2025 spring racing season and had two rowers earn All-NWC status and six land CRCA Scholar-Athlete honors.
The 2026 Lutes varsity eight boat placed second at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Championships, placed third in its race at the 2026 Windermere Cup, and was sixth overall in the Grand Final at the 2026 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships. Oclander's squad ended the season with 11 student-athletes earning CRCA Scholar-Athlete honors with two landed CSC Academic All-District accolades.
Oclander joins Luteville with considerable coaching experience, including spending the previous two years as Head Coach at the Renton Rowing Center. While there, Oclander helped the team qualify for the Northwest Regional Finals in 2022-2023, including a bronze medal in the W1x.
Oclander spent four seasons as an assistant at Division II Seattle Pacific University. His time saw the Falcons finish sixth as a team at the 2022 NCAA Division II Championships and third at the 2023 Championships.
Prior to SPU, Oclander was an assistant coach at Division I Seattle University, guiding the Redhawk's Novice Eight boat to a WIRA Championship in 2017. Additional coaching stops include Bothell High School, Oklahoma City Riversport, Green Lake Crew, Resilient Rowing Club, and the Northern Virginia Rowing Club. Under his direction, OKC Riversport won multiple Central Region Youth Championships and a silver medal at the 2018 USRowing Youth National Championships.
As a collegian, Oclander rowed as Seattle Pacific, serving as team captain for two seasons. Oclander earned a degree in political science from SPU and holds Level 2 and 3 Coaching Certifications from USRowing.
