Matt CogenBaseball // R-Sophomore // Franklin, TN // Business Management

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE BELMONT?

I definitely had a unique path to Belmont, but I’m so happy that I ended up here. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Belmont’s culture really stood out to me within both the baseball team and the athletic department. The people here are special and really care about your success on the field and in the classroom. Having attended a school before coming to Belmont has provided me the ability to see how special it is here. There’s an emphasis on growth as a student and as a person—spiritually and physically—here that I hadn’t experienced anywhere else. At Belmont, I definitely feel like the coaches and athletic administration care about you as a person more than they do about wins and losses.

WHAT HAS BELMONT PROVIDED YOU ACADEMICALLY?

Belmont has helped me tremendously academically. I was not a great student back in high school or even the early days of college, but coming here and having all of the resources we are provided, whether it be the academic center, the library or one-on-one counseling, the administration does everything they can to help us. The importance that they place on school has made a big impact on me.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS UPON GRADUATION?

I think I want to stay in sports but get into the business side of it. I’d love to stay in Nashville and get involved in sales.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE SUPPORT SYSTEM THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT PROVIDES?

Playing a sport at Belmont feels like a lifelong commitment. I know the people here will always care about me and always have my back. Coming to Belmont and being a part of this athletic department has really showed me that there’s more to life than baseball and that I can become whatever I set my mind to. They care about you, no matter what your role on the team is; you’re going to get the same amount of resources both athletically and academically.

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY AT BELMONT TO BE?

I hope that I can help my team to an OVC title and make it to regionals during my time here. As far as from an individual standpoint, I hope to do everything that I can while I’m at Belmont because I only get one chance at it.