Matt Goldsmith is vacationing in Wyoming with his family and doing a little mountain climbing.

Goldsmith took The College of New Jersey basketball program to some new heights during his 10 years before stepping away this spring to take the head job at Middlebury.

“I’m eternally grateful for TCNJ for giving me the opportunity,’’ said Goldsmith. “When I came to TCNJ as a kid in a lot of ways, I was 29 years old and wasn’t married and I grew up in the athletics department here at TCNJ and the players grew up with me and I learned a ton from my first year to my 10th.’’

They won at lot, too.

Goldsmith was 153-98 over his time in Ewing, made the NJAC playoffs every year and won two conference titles in 2019-20 and 2023-24. The league championship was the first for TCNJ since the 1997-98 season.

“They put their faith in me and always be grateful to the athletic department and all my players, my staff over the  years,’’ said Goldsmith. “I’ve been lucky to be around great people and people make programs and we’ve been lucky to have great people inside our basketball program.’’

It has been a great run for Goldsmith, who played at Delbarton and then at Amherst before taking the TCNJ job.

“Extremely proud, what we did had not been accomplished at TCNJ in a really long time,’’ said Goldsmith. “We went to the semifinals of NJAC in eight of our 10 years. We were always in the mix no matter who graduated or who was retuning, we always figured it out and I’m super happy with that consistency.’’

He’s taking over a very consistent program at Middlebury, which has been to the NCAA’s in 12 of the last 14 years under 28-year coach Jeff Brown, who retired after this season.

“One of the things that attracted me to TCNJ was the overall success of the athletic programs and when you see that as a coach it’s exciting because it shows there’s a formula to do that at a high level,’’ said Goldsmith. “When you look at Middlebury its that same thing but on steroids. They win national titles at almost every sport and they always are competing doe NESCAC titles.’’

Playing at Amherst, Goldsmith is very familiar with the caliber of education and athletics in the NESCAC.

“NCAA’s in 12 of 14 years and a run like that doesn’t happen by accident it takes a lot of people outside as well as inside the basketball program to make that happen,’’ said Goldsmith of Middlebury’s prowess. “The overall success and the level they have been able to compete at is amazing.’’

This was more than just a basketball decision it is also a family matter as Goldsmith knows Vermont will be a great place to raise as family as he and his wife Laura now have three children.

“I think long term it was the best decision for our family and that’s what it came down to,’’ said Goldsmith. “I love TCNJ and I loved working there and I love our guys, but I think this is an opportunity we just couldn’t pass up and we are thinking about the three little ones. We’re excited to get up there.’’

After climbing mountains in Wyoming and at TCNJ, Goldsmith will now be looking to keep the Panthers on top of the mountain.