Nathan Matthews and Daniel Koloff, two men who first connected as teenage volleyball players, have exchanged vows in a picturesque ceremony on a Greek island.
The couple’s story began in 2014 in Columbus, Ohio, when they were selected as roommates for a high school club volleyball tournament despite attending different schools and neither being out at the time.
Koloff, raised in a religious household and later attending Liberty University, kept his sexuality private, so their initial relationship remained platonic.
After college, both returned to Columbus, and Koloff invited Matthews to a beach volleyball tournament, reigniting their friendship and eventually allowing love to bloom.
Their proposal moment came amid the romantic grandeur of the Paris Olympics, where Matthews got down on one knee in front of the Eiffel Tower and Koloff joyfully accepted.
Ten months later, the couple celebrated their marriage on June 4, surrounded by loved ones on the cliffs of Santorini.
Koloff’s brother officiated their ceremony, and the reception dinner overlooking the Aegean Sea added a breathtaking backdrop to their nuptials.
The newlyweds then honeymooned hiking in the scenic Swiss Alps before returning to the United States.
Matthews, who came out at age 19 with a deeply personal essay on Outsports in 2016, has since become a celebrated men’s college volleyball coach at Wittenberg University, winning coach-of-the-year honors twice.
In April 2025, he accepted a position as an assistant coach for the University of Alabama women’s volleyball team, making him one of two openly gay coaches recently hired by the Crimson Tide .
Koloff works as an HR professional at Amazon and has been an unwavering source of support throughout Matthews’s career and personal journey.
Reflecting on their marriage, Matthews told Outsports, “Daniel is the most beautiful soul I’ve ever met,” and added, “I’m immensely thankful for what our partnership has grown into. I’m so excited to continue building our life together.” .
As an openly gay coach, Matthews emphasizes the positive impact of representation in sports, noting that players feel “safe to express their genuine self” and that his transparency has benefited team culture .
Their story resonates deeply within LGBTQ+ communities and sports circles, showcasing how love and authenticity can flourish amid athletic achievement and life transitions.
Nathan and Daniel’s journey—from teenage teammates navigating silent crushes to married partners shaping inclusive athletic spaces—is a testament to resilience, visibility, and the transformative power of being true to oneself.