In the summer of 1966 in a small town called Tionesta, Pennsylvania, Matt Heasley was born. Matt was the second youngest of five siblings.
Growing up in Tionesta and going to West Forest High School, with a graduating class of around 50 students, life was quiet in the town. When Matt was in elementary school, he wrestled. In high school, he decided to continue to play sports. There was no football team, so Matt played basketball, baseball, and volleyball.
After graduating high school in 1983, Matt thought he knew exactly what he would do after college. He was accepted into SRU’s education program where he would study to be a physical education teacher. It wasn’t until Matt’s second semester at SRU that he learned of the newly founded rugby team on campus.
A friend of Matt's told him that he should come out for the team, little did Matt know this would be a life-changing moment. Similar to today, Rock Rugby was part of the Allegheny Rugby Union, allowing Rock Rugby to play teams like Cal-U, Penn State, and long-time rivals, IUP.
After being invited to the Mardi Gras tournament by Tulane University for spring break, Matt’s first real rugby experience was in New Orleans in 1984. Matt continued to play rugby for Slippery Rock until he graduated in 1988, making a Midwest Select Side team his senior year. Matt got the opportunity to play against a New Zealand team that same year. Very soon after receiving his degree in Phys. Ed. Education, he packed his bags, loaded his Oldsmobile Omega, and set out west to continue his rugby career.
Matt and the club team talking after practice at Old Thompson Field.
Ready to play rugby at the next level, Matt packed up his things into his car and started his 36-hour solo road trip to California. When he got to San Diego he laced up his cleats to play for Old Mission Beach Atlantic Club and Powerhouse Rugby Club.
While focusing on Rugby, Matt mostly stuck to odd jobs in the 7 years he spent in California. A memorable job for him was working at TGIFridays with a former SLOB (Slippery Rock Old Boy) and current teammate. Matt said that to this day, they are still good friends.
Matt played for Select Star and All-Star teams while in California, including the Southern California Griffins and Pacific Coast Grizzlies.
When his formal rugby career concluded in 1995 Matt moved back home to the Keystone State and focused on his career and family. He followed his call to education and has been a principal at Neshannock Elementary School for 23 years. With all of his years in education, it is no surprise that he has three successful daughters, his youngest graduating from Ohio State this week.
With his final bird flying the nest, Matt realized that he would have some free time on his hands. In 2019, he started volunteering his time with a club that he kept in touch with through the years. Matt played in Rugby Fest, Slippery Rock Men’s Rugby Club’s annual alumni match, a number of times since being back from San Diego. After hearing of the club’s recent suspension, he was hoping that he could help the team get back on its feet.
Patrick Conner, Chase Nething, Cole Murkonj, Matt Heasley, and Clinton McConnell talk after winning the Bowl Championship at Clarion on Saturday.
Matt and Clint “Hightower” McConnell have both found themselves together looking at a team that had potential. The two coaches have helped the club get to St. Louis in the fall for the Midwest Championships and are headed to New Orleans for the national tournament later this month.
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