University of Massachusets Athletics
Men's Track & Field
Ritchie, Tim
Tim Ritchie
- Title:
- Assistant Coach - Distance
- Email:
- tritchie@umass.edu
Tim Ritchie was named the head coach of the University of Massachusetts men's cross country program on April 18, 2018. The former standout distance runner for the Boston College Eagles with a wealth of experience as a professional runner and distance coach in the New England region enters his eighth season with the Minutemen in 2025.
In 2024 in the team’s final year in the Atlantic 10 Conference, Ritchie led the UMass harriers to their third Atlantic 10 title and first since 2008 and was honored as the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. The Minutemen posted a score of 36 with all five of its scorers earning All-Atlantic 10 recognition with top-15 overall finishes. Four individuals—Bobby Carew, Collin Catherwood, Michael Norberg and Liam Ouellette were honored as members of the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Men’s Cross Country Team, as well. Carew placed 17th at the NCAAA Northeast Regional Championships and was named to the USTFCCCA All-Region team as the Minutemen posted their best finish at the regional meet since 2008.
On the track in the spring of 2025, Ritchie coached Norberg to the 2025 Atlantic 10 3K Steeplechase title and an NCAA Preliminary Championships qualification, while Carew captured the 2025 Atlantic 10 10K crown on his watch. Three individuals also captured gold at the New England Championships: Catherwood (5K), Norberg (3K Steeplechase) and Ouellette (10K).
Outdoors in 2024, Ritchie’s student-athletes won gold in two events at the New England Championships with Matthew George winning the 3K Steeplechase and Carew claiming the top spot in the 10K.
During the 2022 cross country season, the Minutemen took home the New England Championship for the sixth time in program history and the second of Ritchie’s tenure. He coached Carew to a New England title in the 10,000 meter run during the outdoor season in 2023, while Ouelette was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team for steeplechase.
In 2022 on the track, Ritchie coached Shane Grant and Zach Lefever to Atlantic 10 medals in the 1,000 meter run (silver) and 3,000 meter run (bronze) indoors, respectively, while outdoors Michael Norberg took silver and Zach Conant bronze in the steeplechase at the A-10 meet. Ritchie guided Lefever to an indoor New England title in the mile and Grant, Alexander Laurent, Gabriel Kwarteng and Lefever won gold in the distance medley relay as well. Outdoors Norberg took home the New England crown in steeplechase and Josh Rahn won the New England title in the 10,000 meter run.
UMass enjoyed its best team finish since 2015 at the 2019 Atlantic 10 Championships where the squad placed fifth. Ritchie also coached Erik Engstrom to an A-10 All-Conference honor with an 11th place finish, the second straight season a Minuteman has earned that distinction.
In 2018 under Ritchie’s guidance UMass won its first New England cross country title in over 30 years. That season also saw Michael Famiglietti garner All-Atlantic 10 and All-Region honors after placing 13th and 16th at the A-10 Championships and NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, respectively. On the track in 2018-19 Ritchie also coached Kendall Westhoff to a New England title in the 10,000 meter run.
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.
Ritchie also 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 and an NCAA qualifier in cross country in 2008, 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.
Personal Bests:
Mile – 3:58.49
5,000m - 13:38.02
10,000m – 28:26.20
½ Marathon – 1:01:23
Marathon – 2:11:56
In 2024 in the team’s final year in the Atlantic 10 Conference, Ritchie led the UMass harriers to their third Atlantic 10 title and first since 2008 and was honored as the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. The Minutemen posted a score of 36 with all five of its scorers earning All-Atlantic 10 recognition with top-15 overall finishes. Four individuals—Bobby Carew, Collin Catherwood, Michael Norberg and Liam Ouellette were honored as members of the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Men’s Cross Country Team, as well. Carew placed 17th at the NCAAA Northeast Regional Championships and was named to the USTFCCCA All-Region team as the Minutemen posted their best finish at the regional meet since 2008.
On the track in the spring of 2025, Ritchie coached Norberg to the 2025 Atlantic 10 3K Steeplechase title and an NCAA Preliminary Championships qualification, while Carew captured the 2025 Atlantic 10 10K crown on his watch. Three individuals also captured gold at the New England Championships: Catherwood (5K), Norberg (3K Steeplechase) and Ouellette (10K).
Outdoors in 2024, Ritchie’s student-athletes won gold in two events at the New England Championships with Matthew George winning the 3K Steeplechase and Carew claiming the top spot in the 10K.
During the 2022 cross country season, the Minutemen took home the New England Championship for the sixth time in program history and the second of Ritchie’s tenure. He coached Carew to a New England title in the 10,000 meter run during the outdoor season in 2023, while Ouelette was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team for steeplechase.
In 2022 on the track, Ritchie coached Shane Grant and Zach Lefever to Atlantic 10 medals in the 1,000 meter run (silver) and 3,000 meter run (bronze) indoors, respectively, while outdoors Michael Norberg took silver and Zach Conant bronze in the steeplechase at the A-10 meet. Ritchie guided Lefever to an indoor New England title in the mile and Grant, Alexander Laurent, Gabriel Kwarteng and Lefever won gold in the distance medley relay as well. Outdoors Norberg took home the New England crown in steeplechase and Josh Rahn won the New England title in the 10,000 meter run.
UMass enjoyed its best team finish since 2015 at the 2019 Atlantic 10 Championships where the squad placed fifth. Ritchie also coached Erik Engstrom to an A-10 All-Conference honor with an 11th place finish, the second straight season a Minuteman has earned that distinction.
In 2018 under Ritchie’s guidance UMass won its first New England cross country title in over 30 years. That season also saw Michael Famiglietti garner All-Atlantic 10 and All-Region honors after placing 13th and 16th at the A-10 Championships and NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, respectively. On the track in 2018-19 Ritchie also coached Kendall Westhoff to a New England title in the 10,000 meter run.
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.
Ritchie also 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 and an NCAA qualifier in cross country in 2008, 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.
Personal Bests:
Mile – 3:58.49
5,000m - 13:38.02
10,000m – 28:26.20
½ Marathon – 1:01:23
Marathon – 2:11:56
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