ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy's intercollegiate sailing head coach Ian Burman announced that Matt Peter has joined the Midshipmen coaching staff as an assistant coach.
 
Peter comes to Annapolis after a two-year stint as the head coach at the Chicago Yacht Club in Chicago, Ill. Prior to his time in the Midwest, Peter spent the previous four years on the west coast. He served as the head coach of the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club from 2014-18, where he worked closely with the travel race teams and the high school program. Peter was also the head sailing coach at Mater Dei High School from 2017-18 while serving as the assistant coach at Corona del Mar High School from 2015-17.
 
"We are really excited to have Matt join our team," Burman said. "He has a tremendous passion for the sport of sailing and his attention to the small details of the game will be a great benefit for our players. While it is unfortunate that our shortened season minimized the effect he could have on this year's team, I know Matt will be a huge help in future seasons."
 
Peter got his start as a sailing coach at the Cape Cod Sea Camps where he coached the camp's learn-to-sail program in 2009. He also helped found the Emmanuel College sailing team during his time attending the school. After he graduated from Emmanuel with a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design and communications, he took over the role of head coach. Peter also coached the Wentworth Institute of Technology and the Boston Latin School sailing teams.
 
"I am thrilled to be working with and for the group here at the Naval Academy. I would like to thank head coach Ian Burman for giving me this opportunity," Peter said. "The caliber of the student-athletes, facilities and coaching staff are unrivaled and the program is fortunate to have a world-class network of support. It is a beautiful thing when a team is afforded the opportunity to put their heads down and work, which is something I could not be happier to be a part of." 
 
Peter holds a US Sailing Level 3 coaching certification and sits on the US Sailing Coaches Committee. He has also coached for several one-design classes, including the J/70 Melges 24, Club 420 and International 420.