FECHT NAMED HEAD MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY COACH
Warren, Mich. (April 25, 2022) – The Macomb Community College athletics department has announced the hiring of former Macomb All-American and longtime Wayne State University assistant coach, Matt Fecht, as the head men’s and women’s cross country coach. Fecht will take over the helm of the Monarchs’ cross country program after former head coach, Ed Kerr, stepped down at the conclusion of last season.
"We are excited to have Coach Fecht leading our program," Athletic Director Bryan Rizzo said. "As a former student-athlete at Macomb, Coach Fecht knows what it takes to be successful academically and athletically at this level. We look forward to working with him and watching him build the program in his vision.”
In a homecoming of sorts, Fecht, a 2002 NJCAA All-American and member of a team that placed top-10 nationally under the guidance of NJCAA Coaches Association Hall of Fame member and longtime Macomb coach, Kim Renas, returns to lead a program he once starred for to begin his collegiate career. The All-American campaign landed Fecht a great opportunity at Wayne State where he went on to become a three-time national championship qualifier and a NCAA Division II All-American in 2005.
“I would like to thank Athletic Director, Bryan Rizzo, and the entire search committee for giving me this opportunity,” Fecht said. “I also would like to thank my family and friends who have supported me along the way as I make my return into college coaching. I am ready to hit the ground running and get to work building a national-level program that is known for not only its competitiveness on the course, but its commitment to academics, the community and beyond. Macomb County is home to some of the best young runners the state has to offer, and we are going to provide a place for those student-athletes to showcase their abilities in a competitive collegiate setting.”
“Having started my career here, coaching at Macomb is sort of like a homecoming for me,” Fecht continued. “While at Macomb, I was able to grow and have success at the national level and ultimately transfer on scholarship to a four-year institution. Had it not been for the opportunity I was afforded at Macomb, I don’t think I would have gone on to have the success I was able to have in both my collegiate career, as well as my professional running career. It will be my goal to provide future Monarchs the same opportunities I was afforded, both in the classroom and on the course.”
Immediately following his intercollegiate running days, Fecht joined Wayne State as an assistant cross country coach for the greater part of 2006-2017 where he helped oversee camps, recruitment, scholarships, strength and conditioning, the operations budget, travel and more. During his time at Wayne State, Fecht helped develop eight All-Americans, three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Champions, as well as numerous all-conference performers. In addition to the strong individual success, Fecht helped guide six teams to the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship.
Fecht, a USTFCCCA Level 1 Certified coach, was at Wayne State when the institution started its women’s track & field program, and he was named an assistant on staff in charge of recruiting and overall student-athlete development.
On top of his highly-successful collegiate coaching and running career, Fecht also enjoyed a great stretch as a sponsored professional runner, highlighted by becoming a three-time United States Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier (2012, 2016 and 2020). In 2008, the talented coach/runner was named Michigan Runner Magazine Co-Male Runner of the Year and in 2011 he earned a top-25 fastest USA Marathon time.
Fecht earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Health and Physical Education and a Master of Arts in Sports Management from Wayne State University. He is currently serving as a health, physical education and technology teacher for Warren Consolidated Schools and is also the head boys track & field coach at Warren Mott High School.
