Pacific University Men's Cross Country

Lydum has previously been the head coach in both cross country and track and field at Defiance College (Ohio) and was the track and field boss at San Francisco State.   "I am really excited to get the process of building these programs started," Lydum said when hired. "All the pieces of the puzzle are in place to build something special here. Pacific has great facilities, the staffing, and bright student-athletes to build a championship program. Down the road, looking at the big picture, we are situated to be an outstanding program at the national level." Lydum is an Oregon native (Springfield/Thurston HS), having starred in football and track and field at Western Oregon State College (now Western Oregon University). He played football for the Wolves in 1985 and 1986, and was a district champion and a NAIA All-American in the hammer (1990). He earned his bachelors and masters degrees from Western Oregon (1990 and 1993) and his doctorate from the University of Arizona (2011). Lydum has been an active clinician for USA Track and Field for many years and has been the director of the Youth Level 2 program since 2010. Lydums wife Randi is the compliance director and senior woman administrator at Western Oregon, and a former track and field All-American for the Wolves as well. They previously coached together at Defiance and San Francisco State, and have two children (Max and Hazel). They live in Monmouth.  Matt Lydum