Longwood head men’s basketball coach Ronnie Thomas announced the addition of Emmanuel Matey and Adam Simmons to the men’s basketball staff today.

Matey comes to Longwood as an assistant following his time at Campbell, and Simmons joins the staff as the Director of Basketball Operations after two seasons at Vanderbilt.

Matey spent the past two seasons on staff at Campbell. In his two seasons at Campbell, he helped the Fighting Camels win 29 games, including an 18-18 record in CAA play.

“Emmanuel is someone who truly embodies what it means to pour into student-athletes,” said Thomas. “His passion and commitment to a holistic transformation reflects the very values we stand for. His energy, heart for people, and unwavering dedication align seamlessly with my leadership style, making him an invaluable addition to our team.”

As an assistant last season, he helped the team go 10-8 in the CAA which included a 9-3 start to league play.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to work at Longwood,” Matey said. “From the people at Longwood to the town of Farmville, it is truly a hidden gem. Being part of a rising mid-major program with a winning tradition and strong culture made this an easy decision. Coach Ronnie is a proven leader who prioritizes family and understands that success comes from surrounding yourself with good people. His energy and passion are infectious, and I am thrilled to work alongside him.”

During the 2024-25 season, he helped coach both Colby Duggan and Nolan Dorsey, who earned All-CAA postseason honors. Duggan was an All-CAA First Team selection after leading the team in scoring at 19.9 points per game in league action, and he scored 15.8 points per game on the season. Dorsey, meanwhile, was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year after leading the CAA in steals (51) and was the top defender on the top defense in the CAA per Kenpom.

In his first season, he worked with Anthony Dell’Orso, who earned second-team All-CAA honors after averaging 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Prior to Campbell, Matey spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at VCU under Mike Rhoades. During his time there, VCU won the A10 regular season title as well as the A10 Tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Rams went 27-8 that season, and it was the first time in team history VCU had won both the regular season and conference tournament title in the A10 in the same season.

He helped work with Ace Baldwin, Jr., the A10 Player of the Year and A10 Defensive Player of the Year as well as two more all-conference players.

In his first season at VCU, the Rams went 22-10 and advanced to the second round of the NIT.

Matey jumped to the collegiate ranks following his time coaching on the Nike EYBL circuit with Team Takeover and at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, his alma mater.

He played collegiately at Morgan State for two seasons before transferring to Gannon University for his junior and senior years. He was a team captain as a senior and helped Gannon finish second in the PSAC West Conference.

Matey earned his undergraduate degree, a bachelor’s in business administration with a sports marketing and management focus, from Gannon in 2017. He completed his master’s degree in sports leadership at VCU in 2023.

Simmons joins the Lancer staff after being on the Vanderbilt staff that guided the Commodores to a 20-win campaign and a trip to the NCAA National Tournament.

“Adam is the definition of a tireless worker,” Thomas said. “His attention to detail and relentless pursuit of excellence is a tremendous example of what it means to be a part of our program. Our program and guys are going to benefit with Adam in his new role.”

Over his two seasons, he helped assist with recruiting, player development, video and operations in addition to other duties.

“I’m ecstatic to join Coach Thomas, his staff, and the Longwood community,” said Simmons. “Longwood basketball is a program has been building a commitment to excellence over the years. To become a part of that is a tremendous opportunity that I can’t thank Coach Thomas enough for. I know Coach Thomas has a phenomenal vision to continue to elevate this program, and I can’t wait to contribute to that.”

Prior to his time at Vanderbilt, he was a lead manager as a student at the University of Wisconsin as an undergraduate.

He helped lead a staff of 16 student managers and assisted the coaching staff with recruiting, operations and analytics.

In addition, he earned hands on experience in helping with drills and player workouts along with working with video analytics to assist coaches in building game plans and scouting reports.

Simmons holds his bachelor’s degree in marketing, supply chain management and real estate from Wisconsin, and he earned his master’s degree in leadership and organizational performance at Vanderbilt.