Dutchess Community College Athletics

Matthew Paquet was hired in August 2009 as Athletic Director at Dutchess Community College and has provided leadership to the Falcons as an NJCAA member of the Mid-Hudson Conference and Region XV.  Mr. Paquet provides consistent structure and support to the department allowing it to strengthen and grow. In 2010, Mr. Paquet facilitated the development of a Women’s Softball Field on campus and in 2020 assisted with the renovation of the Falcon Hall gymnasium. In 2021, Mr. Paquet introduced Esports to campus and oversaw the development of an Esports Arena in Dutchess Hall in 2023 for in-person competition. Academically, Mr. Paquet has provided oversight and support to assist students with mainitian success in the classroom and earning recognition for their scholastic-academic honors including All-Region, All-Conference, and NJCAA Academic All-American awards and well as SUNY Chancellor’s Honors.  He aids student-athletes by providing references and recommendations when students are moving on to four-year institutions or obtaining gainful employment after their college pursuits.

Mr. Paquet was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, NY and was a two-sport Varsity athlete at Our Lady of Lourdes High School, lettering for Soccer and Baseball.  Mr. Paquet returned to the Hudson Valley after completing his Bachelor’s degree where he has been a long-standing volunteer in the community.  Mr. Paquet began his athletic career as Head Coach of Freshman and JV Baseball at his Alma Mater, Our Lady of Lourdes High School.  After assisting Lourdes with winning a NYS Championship in 2006, Mr. Paquet joined Dutchess Community College as the Assistant Baseball Coach.  From 2006-2010 Mr. Paquet was the Assistant Coach at Dutchess where they won a Region XV Championship in 2009.  During this time, he coordinated community-based Summer Camps, Winter Clinics, and the Summer League Teams for the Dutchess Athletic Department.  

Mr. Paquet graduated from Quinnipiac University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Minor in Sociology in 2003 and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Marist College in 2013.

He currently resides in Millbrook, New York with his daughter Fiona.