Elmira College Athletics Hall of Fame
Ellen Gibbs Matson served Elmira College Athletics from 1979 to 1988 as a coach, Director of Intramurals, and Physical Education instructor. During her nine-year stay as head coach of the women's volleyball program (1979–87), she recorded 136 wins—the second-most in program history, including a pair of 20-win campaigns and three consecutive ECAC Playoff appearances from 1983–85.
She also spent five years as head coach of the women's basketball team (1979–84), guiding the Soaring Eagles to back-to-back winning seasons in 1981–82 and 1982–83. Matson coached one of Elmira's most prolific basketball players, Mary Kay Babcock '82—who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023—throughout her sophomore to senior seasons. Under Matson's leadership, Babcock set several program records that still stand today, including career rebounds (1,128), made field goals (632), points per game (17.6), and rebounds per game (13.6). Babcock remains one of just two players in program history to average a career double-double.
Following her time at Elmira, Matson went on to teach in the Elmira City School District and served as Interim Director of Athletics. She continued her support of EC athletics as a member of the Booster Club Board of Directors.
