PEORIA, Ill. - Former Iowa standout Matt Esche (pronounced esh-EE) has been named assistant men's and women's cross country coach and track and field coach according to an announcement by first-year Bradley head coach Marc Burns Thursday.
Esche comes to Bradley after serving in a similar capacity at Butler University during the spring semester. In addition to assisting with day-to-day operations, he served as meet director for Butler's annual Stan Lyons track meet.
"We are thrilled to have Matt join our staff," Burns said. "He brings with him great experience as a student-athlete and a coach at the NCAA Division I level. Our goal is to establish a championship atmosphere here at Bradley and his experience at the NCAA Championships will help us make that happen. He expected to excel at the national level as an athlete and he can help our student-athletes raise their expectations to that level."
A 2006 graduate of Iowa, Esche earned degrees in english and health and sports studies during his time in Iowa City. Prior to his time at Butler, he was an assistant track and field coach at Nicholls State. The Colonels set eight track and field records during his year in Thibodaux, La., in addition to posting the school's best-ever conference and regional finishes in cross country.
"He is a positive, hard working coach that is committed to helping Bradley achieve at the highest level," Burns added. "He understands what it takes to be successful as a student, athlete and person and will help us build our program with that motto as our driving force. We would like to welcome Matt and his wife, Sam, to the Bradley family and look forward to great years ahead."
Esche started his coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach at Iowa, assisting with both the cross country and track and field teams for three seasons. During his time on the coaching staff the Hawkeyes men's cross country team finished 28th at the NCAA Championship and third in the 2006 NCAA Midwest Region.
The school record holder in the 10K, Esche qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championship in three of his four seasons and was named Iowa's Cross Country Outstanding Athlete following both his freshman and junior seasons. He also lettered in track and field, where he earned the school's Outstanding Track & Field Freshman Athlete of the Year award in 2002.
