Matthew Sherman Cushing

Matthew S. Cushing of Sagamore, born in Plymouth, MA on August 15, 1966, passed away unexpectedly on August 28, 2017. Matt grew up in Duxbury, and graduated from Duxbury High School. He was a Parade All-American Soccer Player, with a 40-0 winning record, and was inducted into the Duxbury High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He went on to graduate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Sports Management, and where he also began his illustrious coaching career. After leaving UMass, he coached at various colleges, most notably serving as the Men's Head Soccer coach at Wheaton College for the past 24 years, collecting over 300 career wins. He compiled one of the highest winning percentages among active NCAA Division III coaches in the country. In 2014, The Lyons advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and made their tenth appearance overall in program history, all under Matt's guidance. Matt was named Coach of the Year on several occasions, including Regional Coach of the Year by the NSCAA in 2001, and Coach of the Year by EMSCA in 2000.

Not only was Matt a dedicated coach, but he was a mentor and friend to many of his players. In addition to Matt’s countless professional accolades he also found the time to coach his own children's youth club soccer teams, and helped in the development of the Liverpool Football Club International Academy of Massachusetts, based in Plymouth. On the home front, Matt was a loving father and husband, and cherished spending time with his family. He was an avid outdoorsman exploring fishing, skiing, and sailing on Big Sandy Pond. Matt was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, coach, and friend to many. He is survived by his wife, Jessica R. Cushing; children, Grace, Connor, Charlie and Emma; mother, Marcia Connor of Duxbury; siblings, Gordon Cushing and wife Kristine of Duxbury, Gwynne Chapman and husband Lance of Hingham, David Connor and wife Kristen of Marshfield, Marcie Herold of South Dennis, along with numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, extended family, colleagues and friends.

The family will be receiving friends from 3-7pm at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, located at 154 Route 6A in Sandwich, MA. Funeral services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Matthew S. Cushing Scholarship Fund to benefit the Wheaton College Men's Soccer Program. Checks should be made payable to Wheaton College and can be sent in care of Gordon Cushing at 318 Tremont Street, Duxbury, MA 02332.

Arrangements under the direction of Nickerson~Bourne Funeral Home, Sandwich, MA.