University of Massachusets Athletics
Tim Ritchie Named Head Coach Of UMass Men’s Cross Country
April 18, 2018 | Men's Cross Country
The 2008 New England cross country champion previously coached at Boston College and Yale with experience on the professional running circuit.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford announced on Wednesday the hiring of Tim Ritchie as the new head coach of the men's cross country program. The former standout distance runner for the Boston College Eagles comes to UMass with a wealth of experience as a professional runner and distance coach in the New England region.
"We are delighted to welcome Tim to the University of Massachusetts and our men's cross country program," said Bamford. "Tim brings extensive coaching experience and an impressive plan that will support tremendous growth for our student-athletes. He is also a world-class athlete himself with outstanding connections to the Commonwealth and New England region. In every way, we think this is a great fit for UMass."
"I am very excited to join the team at the University of Massachusetts," said Ritchie. "UMass cross country has a long and rich history. I plan to honor that history and the program's many alumni by continuing to grow a winning tradition in the Atlantic 10, the region and the NCAA. In speaking with the staff and, especially, the student-athletes, I felt the energy and commitment present in this program. It is an exciting time to be a Minuteman. Go UMass!"
Ritchie served as an assistant coach at Boston College from September 2010 to July 2016. The Eagles' recruiting director for all event groups, Ritchie coached long distance athletes for indoor and outdoor track and field. During his tenure at BC, 35 new marks were added to the program's all-time top-10 lists, six school records were set and the squad was honored as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team in 12 out of 12 seasons. While coaching the Eagles' 5K and 10K track student-athletes from 2012-14, Ritchie helped individuals to five All-New England performances and a New England champion in the 10K.
Since 2016, Ritchie has worked as a volunteer coach for the Yale men's cross country and track and field programs and with McKirdy Trained coaching services.
Ritchie graduated from Boston College with bachelor's degrees in biology and theology in 2009 and earned his master of arts in theology in 2010. He served as a two-year captain for the Eagles in 2007-08 and 2008-09 and was the New England cross country individual champion in 2008. A two-time NCAA first round qualifier in the 5K, Ritchie was an All-Northeast Region honoree in cross country in 2007 and 2008 and an All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was an ACC All-Academic Team selection (2007-10), as well and earned an Atlantic Coast Conference Post-Graduate Scholarship.
Ritchie signed a professional contract with Saucony in 2014 and was a two-time USATF National Championship qualifier (3K indoor 2014, 10K outdoor 2015), a two-time Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier and was fourth overall in the US Road Running Circuit in 2017 with 20 top-10 finishes in his career. In December 2017, Ritchie won the U.S. National Championship at the California International Marathon with the second-fastest time (2:11.56) of the year by an American behind Olympian Galen Rupp.
For continued coverage of UMass cross country and track and field, follow the teams on Twitter (@UMass_XC_TF), Instagram (@umasstrackxc) and on UMassAthletics.com.
"We are delighted to welcome Tim to the University of Massachusetts and our men's cross country program," said Bamford. "Tim brings extensive coaching experience and an impressive plan that will support tremendous growth for our student-athletes. He is also a world-class athlete himself with outstanding connections to the Commonwealth and New England region. In every way, we think this is a great fit for UMass."
"I am very excited to join the team at the University of Massachusetts," said Ritchie. "UMass cross country has a long and rich history. I plan to honor that history and the program's many alumni by continuing to grow a winning tradition in the Atlantic 10, the region and the NCAA. In speaking with the staff and, especially, the student-athletes, I felt the energy and commitment present in this program. It is an exciting time to be a Minuteman. Go UMass!"
Ritchie served as an assistant coach at Boston College from September 2010 to July 2016. The Eagles' recruiting director for all event groups, Ritchie coached long distance athletes for indoor and outdoor track and field. During his tenure at BC, 35 new marks were added to the program's all-time top-10 lists, six school records were set and the squad was honored as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team in 12 out of 12 seasons. While coaching the Eagles' 5K and 10K track student-athletes from 2012-14, Ritchie helped individuals to five All-New England performances and a New England champion in the 10K.
Since 2016, Ritchie has worked as a volunteer coach for the Yale men's cross country and track and field programs and with McKirdy Trained coaching services.
Ritchie graduated from Boston College with bachelor's degrees in biology and theology in 2009 and earned his master of arts in theology in 2010. He served as a two-year captain for the Eagles in 2007-08 and 2008-09 and was the New England cross country individual champion in 2008. A two-time NCAA first round qualifier in the 5K, Ritchie was an All-Northeast Region honoree in cross country in 2007 and 2008 and an All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was an ACC All-Academic Team selection (2007-10), as well and earned an Atlantic Coast Conference Post-Graduate Scholarship.
Ritchie signed a professional contract with Saucony in 2014 and was a two-time USATF National Championship qualifier (3K indoor 2014, 10K outdoor 2015), a two-time Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier and was fourth overall in the US Road Running Circuit in 2017 with 20 top-10 finishes in his career. In December 2017, Ritchie won the U.S. National Championship at the California International Marathon with the second-fastest time (2:11.56) of the year by an American behind Olympian Galen Rupp.
For continued coverage of UMass cross country and track and field, follow the teams on Twitter (@UMass_XC_TF), Instagram (@umasstrackxc) and on UMassAthletics.com.
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