Born in Danville, Kentucky, Matt graduated from Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) where he became the mascot for the university based on a dare by a fraternity brother to audition for the school's mascot. Matt went on to perform as the mascot for 3 years before winning the College Mascot National Championship in 1992.
Matt worked as a professional mascot in professional hockey (AHL) before being recruited by the Tampa Bay Rays in 1998 to design, develop and perform as RAYMOND, the mascot for the Tampa Bay Rays.