Matt Kerr - Men's Cross Country Coach - Boston College Athletics

Matt Kerr

Title:
Head Coach

Matt Kerr is entering his 13th season as the Director of Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field at Boston College, poised to continue to establish BC as one of the top developmental programs in the nation.

Over the past five years, under Kerr’s tutelage, Eagles’ student-athletes have consistently ranked among the top performers in the ACC, regionally, and nationally.

In 2019, Sean Burke became Boston College’s first All-American in over two decades, placing 16th overall in the 10,000m run at the NCAA Championship. Burke finished his career as one of the best distance runners in Boston College history. He placed fifth at the 2018 ACC Cross Country Championship, fourth in the 5,000m at the 2019 ACC Indoor Championship, and third in the 10,000m at the 2019 ACC Outdoor Championship. He became just the second Eagle to break the 14-minute barrier in the outdoor 5K, going for 13:59.61. He also owns the program’s third-best 10K time - 29:11.68. Burke also qualified individually for the 2016 NCAA Cross Country championship, after placing eighth at the NCAA Northeast Regional.

Additionally, in 2019, Kerr’s squad made history as Ian Ritchie earned a spot in the field of the NCAA Outdoor Championship, marking the first time BC had placed two student-athletes in the field of the national championship. Ritchie arrived in Chestnut Hill as a part-time track athlete in high school and, under Kerr’s guidance, developed into one of the ACC’s top 1,500m runners. Ritchie finished third at the 2019 ACC Outdoor Championship , clocking a personal best 3:44.34.

In total, Kerr-coached student-athletes at Boston College have produced nearly 150 top-10 performances and 14 school records. Most recently, Kerr coached Sean Sullivan to a new Boston College record for the indoor mile - a time of 4:02.26 at the Valentine Invitational. In the sprints and hurdles, Marcus Manson set two new BC records - the indoor 400m (48.03) and outdoor 400m hurdles (52.15) - under Kerr. Manson finished third at the 2021 ACC Championship in the 400m hurdles, advancing to the 2021 NCAA Championship East Regional.

The consistent mark of success with Kerr’s programs at Boston College comes with its year-by-year development of its student-athletes. His Eagles routinely perform at their best in the biggest meets of the season. Personal bests and all-time program top 10’s are a commonplace at the regional, conference, and national championship races. In 2019, Boston College’s distance medley, 4 x 800m, and 4 x one mile quartets all shined in the Championship of America races at the prestigious Penn Relays.

Kerr coached and mentored Tim Ritchie to prominent success in U.S. distance running. Ritchie became one of the fastest American mile/marathon combination runners of all-time, registering personal bests of 3:58 in the mile, 1:01 in the half marathon, and 2:11 in the marathon. Ritchie won the U.S. Marathon championship in 2017. Kerr also guided Ritchie to a second place finish at the 2008 ACC Cross Country Championship and an individual appearance at the NCAA Championship. During the 2009 outdoor campaign, Kerr guided Dave Emerson to a win in the 10,000m at the New England Championship.

The Eagles have shined in the classroom under Kerr. In each of the last 11 years, the Eagles have been recognized by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as part of their NCAA Division I All-Academic teams. In total, 19 Boston College men’s cross country and track & field student-athletes have been named to the All-ACC Academic teams for cross country and track & field and over 100 student-athletes have garnered All-ACC Academic Honor Roll accolades.

From 2010-13, Kerr served as the ACC’s representative to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Prior to Boston College, Kerr served as an assistant cross country and track & field coach at Wake Forest. While with the Demon Deacons, Kerr helped guide the women’s cross country team to two NCAA Championship appearances in 2004 and 2005, coaching three runners who garnered All-America honors.

Kerr’s championship pedigree can be traced back to his highly decorated career as an athlete. A two-time NCAA Champion in the 3,000m steeplechase at Arkansas from 1995-99, Kerr was part of 10 NCAA Championship teams with the Razorbacks under legendary head coach John McDonnell. During his time at Arkansas, Kerr was part of 12 SEC Championships in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track.

A double-major in international economics and marketing management, Kerr earned Dean’s List and Academic All-American honors throughout his career as an undergraduate. He earned his masters in business administration from the University of Wollongong in Australia, graduating with distinction honors. While at Wollongong, Kerr was a five-time Australian University Games Champion.

Originally from Fergus, Ontario, Kerr is a four-time Canadian Champion in the 3,000m steeplechase (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007) and has represented Team Canada on seven occasions. He raced at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships five times (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2005) and the IAAF World Track Championships twice (2003, 2005). Kerr finished eighth at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in the steeplechase.

Kerr and his wife Jill - a five-time All-American track & field student-athlete at Wake Forest and currently the head cross country and track coach at the Montrose School in Medfield - have six children: Madeline, James, Eloise, Rose, Violet, and Jessamine.