Nathan Matthews and Daniel Koloff kiss in celebration of their engagement at the Paris Olympics. | Loie Greenwood / Instagram

Nathan Matthews may not be competing at the Paris Olympics, but the volleyball coach won one of the best golds of the Games.

Visiting Paris to watch some volleyball, the Wittenberg University men’s volleyball head coach took the opportunity for a stroll past the Eiffel Tower with his boyfriend, Daniel Koloff, himself a volleyball player.

That’s when Matthews got on one knee and made Koloff his fiance, with a romantic wedding proposal for the world to see.

Koloff said, “Oui.”

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The two guys have been dating for a couple of years.

They grew up near each other and even played on the same high school all-star team. They were even roommates on that team, yet neither was out at the time.

Since coming out, they’ve reunited. And soon they’ll unite in marriage.

Matthews has found success as the Wittenberg men’s volleyball coach, winning two coach of the year awards. He’s one of the rare publicly out gay male coaches who coach a men’s college team sport.

He played for Wittenberg University as a college player, eventually becoming a volunteer coach with the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team.

Matthews has lived his life as a gay man in college sports very openly. That’s been intentional.

“As a young gay athlete, I truly felt like there was no one else like me,” he previously told Outsports. “Further, I felt as though being gay meant I couldn’t achieve things I wanted to achieve as an athlete.

“What I needed to overcome these perceptions and fears was a role model. I needed someone who could show me I wasn’t alone and that I could still be a successful athlete. Today, I hope to be that example.”

Now he has the opportunity to show gay people another example of two men finding love and life together.

You can follow Nathan Matthews on Instagram.

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