The Montclair Public Schools is excited to announce the hiring of Matthew Belford as the new Athletic Director for Montclair Public Schools/Montclair High School, effective February 2025. Matthew Belford comes to the district with 23 years of experience in athletics, six of those years being in administration, bringing a wealth of knowledge and leadership to enhance the district's athletic programs.
“We are thrilled to welcome Matthew Belford to the Montclair Public Schools team,” said Damen G. Cooper, Interim Superintendent of Montclair Public Schools. “His experience, leadership, and passion for fostering student-athletes’ success both on and off the field make him the ideal candidate to guide our elite athletic programs into the future. We believe his vision aligns perfectly with our commitment to excellence in education and athletics.”
As Athletic Director, Matthew Belford will oversee all sports programs, coordinate events, and work to ensure that the district’s athletic programs remain in compliance and continue to provide students with the opportunity to excel in both academics and athletics.
“We are confident that Matthew Belford will bring a fresh perspective to our athletic programs, focusing on both athletic performance and student development,” said Jeffrey Freeman, Principal of Montclair High School. “With his leadership, we expect to see increased student participation and success across all sports, as well as an emphasis on building a strong, inclusive sports culture that empowers all students to achieve their best.”
Matthew Belford previously served as Director of Athletics at Hightstown High School, where he successfully led operations for 27 NJSIAA sports. Throughout his career he has been instrumental in 18 players being signed with professional baseball teams, 78 players receiving athletic and academic scholarships, fundraising over $78,000 to support athletic programs and received coach of the year accolades two times. With a deep commitment to fostering positive student-athlete experiences, he is excited to work with coaches, student-athletes, and the community to build upon the district’s success and strong athletic traditions.
“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to lead the Athletic Department at Montclair High School as its director. It is a privilege to uphold and continue the 157-year tradition of Mountie success and pride,” said Matthew Belford. "I am excited to support Montclair's student-athletes in achieving success in competition and life. "My goal is to help student-athletes turn the lessons gained through competition into tools for making a positive impact on the world and inspiring others to do the same."
“We are excited about the future of our athletic programs under Matthew Belford’s leadership,” said Melanie Deysher President of the Montclair Public Schools Board. “His experience, dedication, and passion for student-athletes will help us build upon the positive, high-performing environment we currently have, and encourage our teams to reach even higher heights. We look forward to seeing our athletics thrive with his guidance.”
About Montclair High School Athletics:The Montclair High School Athletic Program is home to 31 competitive sports with three levels of competition: freshman, junior varsity and varsity. The program is committed to fostering a positive, inclusive, and competitive environment that enhances students’ educational experience. Recognizing the value of athletics as an integral part of personal and social development, our program strives to develop good sportsmanship in both winning and losing, abide by the rules of the game with integrity and respect, and embrace the challenge of playing to win while accepting defeat with grace.
We aim to build confidence and self-discipline, cultivate decision-making skills and leadership qualities, encourage the development of acceptable social skills and strong character, earn and demonstrate respect for teammates, opponents, and the broader community, and help students achieve their maximum athletic potential. Through these objectives, Montclair High School Athletics seeks to inspire students to grow as athletes, leaders, and individuals prepared for success on and off the field.
For more information about the Montclair Public Schools athletic programs, visit the high school
athletics page.