Forged by FAU - Tara Matson
3/1/2021
Tara Matson has worked in physical education for more than 20 years, yet still does far more than roll the balls out. She keeps her Cedar Hill Elementary (Jefferson City, Missouri) classes “pretty structured,” emphasizing the importance of dedication, practice and academics.
It’s an approach she mastered years prior as a Florida Atlantic University student-athlete.
“I just think [with] everything that I learned being a college athlete and wanting to get there,” Matson said, “you see kids that have potential to instill work ethic and discipline in them to take to the next level.”
Matson took a long route to her next level. The Wyoming native began her career at in-state Casper College (JUCO) before transferring to FAU in 1992. The notion of being 2,000-plus miles from home made it a “tough choice” for Matson, but one she came to because of Boca Raton’s warm weather and the team’s addition of Yolanda Griffith.
The Griffith factor particularly worked to Matson’s favor.
She’d just take off down the court, and I’d just be like a quarterback and throw it down the court. She’d be right there with her long arms to lay it in. You could pass her anything.Matson said of Griffith, an eventual All-American, WNBA MVP and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer.
With Matson running point and Griffith down low, the 1992-93 Owls flourished to a 20-8 record. That .714 winning percentage has yet to be matched or surpassed by an FAU team since.
As a physical education teacher, Matson introduces her students to multiple sports rather than sticking to one. Matson did the same at FAU.
In 1995, FAU was set to field its first ever softball team under legendary coach Joan Joyce. Matson, who finished her basketball eligibility but had little softball experience, drew Joyce’s attention and earned an invitation to join the squad.
Matson took Joyce’s offer and hindsight says she was wise by doing so. The Owls went 33-18 their inaugural season, including a sparkling 18-5 at home. Matson learned under one of the sport’s icons in Joyce, drawing knowledge for her future career and awe from her softball-playing cousins.
“They were like, ‘What’s the name of your coach?'. And I told them, and they were like, ‘Oh, my god, she’s my idol. I love her. Do you know how big she is?’ And I was like, ‘I knew she was, but I didn’t know she was that amazing.’Matson recalled her cousins asking.
Matson developed academically and athletically at FAU but also culturally. In Wyoming, she saw little diversity compared to what she experienced at FAU. That transition caused “culture shock” at first, but now helps Matson work with all her students.
“Having that diversity in college has helped me go into my teaching field and being able to work with other people of different cultures and be accepting and also understanding,” said Matson, an elementary education major at FAU.
“You’re kind of more open and not hesitant to go into a situation,” she added. “I’m able to go in and fit in with whoever or whatever race. I have that confidence. I just feel comfortable.”
Despite having an “awesome experience” at FAU, Matson left the university her final semester – with only nine credit hours remaining – after a “family tragedy” occurred. Matson completed her bachelor’s degree in K-12 physical education at Central Missouri State, where she later also earned a master’s degree.
Matson long desired to coach and did so at the high school level for six years. She then got a job teaching elementary school, one she planned to have for a year before transitioning back into coaching. Her growing love of elementary education has kept her there, however, for more than 13 years.
“I felt like the kids needed me,” Matson said. “I was somebody they’d come in and they look for me to say hi to and get a high-five or a hug. They just grew on me. I just loved that. I felt like those kids needed these people, these teachers. They appreciate you being there. And then I guess I really liked developing their skills and seeing them move on and try to get them onto leagues and teams that they can move on up in and continue up through high school, to kind of spark an interest in them that they want to continue.”
It wasn’t always easy for Matson to continue her athletic dreams. In her final basketball season, FAU battled injuries and at times only suited seven players because of them. Matson suffered from plantar fasciitis herself and required pre-game shots to play.
Matson could have redshirted that 1993-1994 campaign, one in which FAU went 5-22. But she battled through injuries and losses to finish, learning a valuable lesson along the way.
No matter what, you can get through it. And it’s not all about winning and losing. When you win, it’s awesome. But I learned that losing, it’s tough, but you keep on going and working hard. I think some of the situations you grow and get older. I think there are so many things in life that beat you down, but you can’t let it get to you. You got to just keep fighting and work through it. And I think college athletics really helped me out with that.