Matt Lynch has once again proven that being openly gay in men’s sports isn’t a limitation but a power move all on its own.
The 34-year-old head coach at USC Salkehatchie has become the only publicly out gay coach in men’s college basketball, and now he’s being celebrated for his success and unusual daily routines in a brand-new feature from Men’s Health.
It’s the kind of visibility LGBTQ+ sports fans rarely get to see, and honestly, it feels good.
Lynch has steadily built his small, often overlooked program into a legitimate force that clinched the Region 10 Championship in 2024 and has kept winning ever since.
What makes his story so compelling is that none of his achievements came from shortcuts, glamorous resources, or cushy facilities.
This is a man who begins each morning working out alongside his players to show them what accountability looks like from the top down.
He’s also the coach who scrubs the gym floor himself because the school’s cleaning machine keeps breaking and someone has to make sure the court is safe before practice starts.
That mix of grit and humility is part of why his players trust him and why his name keeps appearing on national radar lists like the Outsports Power 100.
Lynch puts just as much heart into his relationships off the court, sharing his life openly with his boyfriend, Cody, in a way that sends a comforting message to LGBTQ+ athletes everywhere.
The couple’s current ritual involves late-night “Sons of Anarchy” episodes, which is such a perfect contrast to his gentle leadership style that it almost reads like a queer rom-com plot point.
For many queer fans, Lynch represents the kind of sports role model we grew up wishing existed — someone out, confident, and respected not in spite of who he is but because authenticity has become his competitive edge.
The Men’s Health feature highlights how his unconventional routines, emotional intelligence, and fierce dedication have transformed a small rural team into a group of players who believe in themselves and in one another.
Lynch’s impact goes beyond basketball because his presence alone challenges old assumptions about masculinity, toughness, and who belongs in sports leadership.
In an environment where LGBTQ+ athletes and coaches have often been pressured to stay quiet or stay away, his success feels like a breath of fresh, hopeful air.
Where he goes next is anyone’s guess, but if his past few years are any indication, this is only the beginning of what could become one of the most inspiring coaching careers in college basketball.
And for all of us watching from the LGBTQ+ community, it’s a rare and beautiful thing to see someone thrive simply by being unapologetically themselves.
📷 IG: @ lynch5_