Former Gonzaga and professional basketball player Matt Santangelo discusses the music that carried him from childhood hoops to NCAA tournament stardom to his current ventures as the Executive Director of Hoopfest.
Full Episode
As the top-seeded Gonzaga men’s basketball team marches through the NCAA tournament, Matt Santangelo, who helped kick-start the program in the late 90s, joins The Athlete’s Playlist to share the music that influenced his life and career.
Matt honed his basketball skills and toughness growing up in North Portland — a neighborhood known for its grittiness in the 80s and 90s — before joining Gonzaga for what would become the program’s most pivotal years. There, he led the team to a remarkable Elite Eight appearance in ‘99 and followed it up with another Cinderella run to the sweet 16 in 2000 — two trips that would spark the third longest NCAA tournament appearance streak in the nation.
After college, Matt took his game to Europe, where he went from dodging boos, projectiles, and relegation to becoming a star and champion in the continent’s top leagues. These days Matt serves as the Executive Director of Spokane Hoopfest, the largest 3on3 basketball tournament on earth.
From harnessing the fuel and fire of 2pac, Jay-Z, and Eminem to embracing life’s unpredictability with “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack, Matt discusses the music that shaped his journey.
Time Stamps
Start – 20:00: Enjoying show tunes with the family // Becoming the first of nine siblings to specialize in basketball // Gang violence in North Portland // Basketball as an emotional outlet
20:00 – 37:30: Freshman year bonding over Pearl Jam // Choosing Gonzaga over Pac-10 and Big-10 schools // Embracing Gonzaga’s “Outkast” mindset // The talent and style of play of the late 90s Zags
37:30 – 56:30: Contrasting styles of Jay-Z and Eminem // Life lessons of throwing a draft party and not getting drafted // Navigating turbulent start to European career // Finding self-love and purpose outside of basketball
56:30 – End: Career exploration and personal growth after basketball // Pros and cons of American youth sports culture // Embracing unpredictability with “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack
Highlights
The Zags’ “Outkast” mentality
Growing up in North Portland