Matt LeBato brings a combination of collegiate playing experience, NCAA Division I coaching experience, collegiate and high school head coaching experience, and a proven track record of player development and program building to the program. Coach LeBato is in his first season with the Bengals coaching staff, joining in August 2026.
LeBato plays an active role in all aspects of the LSU Eunice program, with responsibilities that include recruiting, offensive schematics, game-situation preparation, player development, and academic advising. He works closely with student-athletes both on and off the court while assisting in the development and implementation of the team's offensive system and preparing the team for key situations throughout the season. His diverse coaching background allows him to bring experience in recruiting, teaching, strategy, player development, and program building to his current role.
LeBato began his coaching career with a one-year stint as an assistant coach at St. Louis Catholic High School. During that season, the Saints advanced to the Top 28, while LeBato had the opportunity to work closely with two NCAA Division I signees. The experience provided an early foundation for his approach to developing and working with high-level student-athletes.
He then moved to the NCAA Division I level, joining the staff at McNeese State University as an assistant coach for two seasons. During LeBato's time at McNeese, the program advanced to postseason play in consecutive seasons, providing him with valuable experience in Division I coaching, recruiting, scouting, and player development.
LeBato later became the head coach at Louisiana Christian University, where he helped guide the program through its transition from NCAA Division III to the NAIA and quickly found success in the program's new era. During his tenure, LeBato coached eight all-conference selections, including a Conference Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year.
His tenure at Louisiana Christian also featured a historic individual achievement, with one of his players becoming the first NCAA Division III freshman to earn Louisiana Freshman of the Year honors, as voted on by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association across the state's collegiate levels. The individual accolades and team success reflected LeBato's ability to identify, recruit, develop, and maximize talent during a significant period of transition for the program.
Following his time at Louisiana Christian, LeBato returned to the high school level at Sulphur High School, where he first spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the boys’ basketball program before taking over as head coach of the girls’ basketball program.
LeBato engineered an immediate turnaround with the Lady Tors, taking over a program that had finished below .500 and leading Sulphur to back-to-back district championships in his two seasons as head coach. The Lady Tors compiled an impressive 50-12 overall record during his tenure and earned two Top 25 finishes among all Louisiana teams according to MaxPreps.
Throughout his coaching career, LeBato has placed a strong emphasis on player development, competitiveness, relationships, accountability, and establishing a winning culture. His approach goes beyond physical talent and production, emphasizing the qualities that contribute to winning, including toughness, coachability, character, accountability, and competitive spirit.
Before beginning his coaching career, LeBato played collegiate basketball at Northwestern State University, an experience that helped shape his understanding of the game and his approach to preparation, competition, relationships, and player development.
