Danny Matias - Hall of Fame Class 2014

Danny Matias '03
Baseball

Bayamon, Puerto Rico native Danny Matias was a four-time Northern Illinois – Iowa Conference All-Conference baseball selection. The infielder was cited as an all-conference performer by league coaches in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Matias hit .325 as a freshman, .358 as a sophomore, .394 with a team-high 61 hits as a junior, and .373 in his final season.  He was named the recipient of the Crusaders' Most Valuable Player Award in 2003, his senior season.

Many of the career records set by Matias still stand today. He ranks first in games played (175), at-bats (637), runs scored (154), hits (231), doubles (45) and total bases (316). He ranks second in stolen bases (54), third in RBIs (100) and batting average (.365), and fourth in bases-on-balls (64), slugging percentage (.578) and on-base percentage (.444).

Matias also owns single-season school records in at-bats (173) and hits (62), both set in 2000, and shares the single-season doubles mark of 17, set in 2003.

In his Hall of Fame inductee questionnaire, Matias said "Clarke instilled in me a strong work ethic on and off the field that has helped me succeed. Throughout my time at Clarke, I truly learned what it meant to be a team player and a leader. I would like to be remembered for that strong work ethic and tenacious spirit that has continued to shape my life."

Matias received his bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Clarke and later earned a degree in accounting at the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico. He currently serves as an auditor and senior compliance officer for Universal Insurance Company.

Danny and his wife, 2003 Clarke graduate Kelcey Dillon, reside in Dorado, Puerto Rico and have two children, Ashlee Matias, and Cassidy Matias.