Coach's Calling

For the last six months, Mattos, who just about everyone addresses as “Coach,” has been calling on friends, former players and members of the community, convincing them that they want to contribute to the University—and specifically to the Broad Athletic Facility—as a part-time fundraising consultant in University Advancement.

His subtle and sometimes not so subtle arm-twisting has already paid off, helping the University on its way to raising more than $11 million in private support to complete the Broad project, which is scheduled to open in early 2008.

Humor plays a part. “When I know the person, especially an ex-player, I know how I can talk to them. And, yes, I’ve been known to threaten,” he says, such as when he told a former player that if he didn’t write a check, Mattos would make him run laps.

One of the techniques that has paid off was an idea the coach came up with himself. For $500, former players can have a locker in the football team dressing room labeled with the player’s name, uniform number and the years they played for Sac State. Forty of the lockers have already been named.

There are also opportunities to honor others. So many of the donors wanted to recognize Clyde Jones, the Hornets’ equipment manager for 41 years, that the equipment facility will bear his name.

Another group of former players have combined to name a room in Mattos’ honor. Two-time Super Bowl winner John Gesek and Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, along with Steve Campora, decided to show their affection for their former taskmaster with the Robert J. “Coach” Mattos Head Coach’s Office. The idea came from Mattos’ friend Gary Quattrin.

Mattos’ ties with Sac State and the community run deep. He played on the football team in 1962-63 and later came back to coach the team from 1978 to 1992. He was the first coach to serve on the University’s Faculty Senate. He also received the Distinguished Service Award and Order of the Hornet from the Alumni Association and was inducted into the Sacramento State Football Hall of Fame. He was also athletics director for the Elk Grove Unified School District.

These roles have given him great connections— not only with former players who have gone on to successful careers, but businesses that have supported the University. He sees his new position as an opportunity to educate the community and the alumni on the need to help their University.

The former coach is intimately aware of the drawbacks in the University’s current athletic facilities. “We need to bring the facilities into the 21st century. Athletically, we’re never going to be Notre Dame. But there’s no reason we can’t be Boise State or Fresno State.”

And while he works primarily with athletics, he says those funds go hand-in-hand with support for the rest of the University. “Once donors become active they are likely to contribute elsewhere—to the Library, to the business college. Athletics is one way to get the interest of the community.”