Matt McClelland

Hometown: Rushville, Ill. Position: Assistant Coach - Distance Experience: 4th year

In his third year as head cross country coach and fourth season as assistant track and field coach is Matt McClelland. He will once again work primarily with the distance runners this season, yet boasts the most promising group of athletes during his tenure at Southern Illinois University.

McClelland led the 2003 men's cross country team to a tie for fourth place at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships - SIU's best season since 1998.

The Saluki cross country squad finished the season ranked #12 in the Midwest Region, and McClelland had three athletes set personal marks under 24 minutes. One of those athletes, sophomore Joe Byrne, received all-conference honors.

A 2001 graduate of Southern Illinois University, McClelland received a degree in agricultural education and junior high science.

While at SIU, McClelland received All-MVC honors in cross-country and was named All-MVC in track as a sophomore (3rd-3,000m) and senior (4th-mile). He was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete squad for four consecutive years in cross country and track. His 2000 indoor mile time of 4:07.09 puts him tenth all-time on the top performers list in SIU history.

McClelland also holds the 17th fastest cross country time on the SIU course with a time of 24.45 (8K).

McClelland, a Rushville, Ill. native, won an Illinois Class A cross-country title in 1995 and was a two-time state champ in the mile in 1995 and 1996.