Matt Ganyard

HONORS
2023 – National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame Hampshire Honor Society membership … named to the ACC All-Academic Team … an Elite 11” finalist for the 2023 Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) … named to the 2023-24 ACC Honor Roll.

AT VIRGINIA:
2023 – Joined the Cavalier program as a 34-year-old walk-on after serving for 10 years in the United States Marine Corps … received his commission as a Bell AH-1 two-seat Cobra attack helicopter pilot … played in his first football game in season opener against  Tennessee … that was his first athletic competition since prep soccer career ended 16 years earlier … handled kickoff duties for UVA … had 58 kickoffs during the season with 20 touchbacks … made three tackles during the season … tried out for UVA program in 2009 but was not asked to join the team … during the 2023 season, he was the oldest player in college football and one of six student-athletes that are above the age of 30 in college football this season … of the six players over 30, he’s the only American born player (4 Australia, 1 England) … Ganyard was the third oldest D-I player to ever play college football … only RB Joe Thomas (55 – S.C. State) and WR Tim Frisby (40 – South Carolina), former Army Ranger, are known to be older.

HIGH SCHOOL & PERSONAL
Did not play high school football … played soccer at Coronado High School … helped team to 2007 CIF-San Diego Section Division III championship … team went 20-3-1 that season outscoring opponents 66-18 with 12 shutouts … played club soccer at UVA … received undergraduate degree in history from UVA in 2011 … completed his MBA program at the Darden School in 2024 … father, Stephen, was also a Marine Corps officer who logged more than 4,200 career flight hours in 12 tactical aircraft over a 26-year career as a fighter pilot … he and his wife, Marie, have two children, daughter Savannah and son Noah.