Bio

Hart Baseball varsity assistant coach Matt Elser marks his 10th anniversary of coaching for the Indians, and the former LA City Player of the Year cherishes his time on the Newhall campus.  Coach Elser, a former LA City Poly Parrot in his high school days, has provided direction and dedication throughout his years in the program, and Coach Ozella and the players relish Coach Elser’s insight.  

Coach Elser, drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the annual MLB draft after his sparkling career at Poly HS, played at the D1 level for the Pepperdine Waves and the Long Beach State Dirtbags.  During Coach Elser’s final season in Malibu for the Waves, Pepperdine finished 3rd in the NCAA national tournament.

“I am forever grateful for the efforts of Coach Elser during his years at Hart and his expertise regarding the overall game is eye-opening.  Coach Elser has provided guidance to the players regarding becoming not just a better baseball player, but a better human being, and those life lessons are highly respected,” said Coach Ozella.  “Coach Elser, by his loyalty and dedication to the program, provides a great role model for the players.”

Coach Elser and his wife Kelli have been married for 37 years, and are blessed with former Hart alumni children, Brittani and Matt.  Brittani, an accomplished volleyball player at Hart and Pierce College, graduated from CSUN and for the past three years, has worked in visual marketing for Hood Container Corporation in Burbank. Brittani starts her 11th season of coaching youth volleyball for LAVA and SMBC.  Matt finished his playing days after graduating from Cal State Stanislaus University last year, and the former Hart catcher now coaches for Harvard-Westlake’s travel ball organization, Legacy in the San Fernando Valley and for MTE Construction.