Matt Sparks Position: Head Coach Experience: 8th Season

Email Coach Matt Sparks

Updated Sept. 23, 2009

Matt Sparks is in his eighth year as the distance and middle distance coach of the Saluki track and field program. Sparks also serves as the head coach of the men's and women's cross country teams.

Sparks has led a resurgence in SIU's cross country program over the last seven years. In his first year as coach of both cross country programs in 2004, he led the Saluki men to a share of the MVC title. The 2007 and 2008 men's cross country teams won back-to-back championships. The women produced back-to-back second place finishes in 2003 and 2004, finishing third in 2005 and back at second in 2006.

For the men, Mohamed Mohamed won the individiual title in 2006 and teammate Jeff Schirmer won back-to-back individual titles in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, Mohamed buit upon his 2006 MVC win by qualifying and competing well at the NCAA Cross Country Championships finishing 77th. In the 2008 post season, the men's team finished sixth at the NCAA Midwest Regional, Schirmer finishing ninth to advance to the NCAA National Championships where he finished 25th for All-American honors, the first at SIU since 1984.

During Sparks tenure as the head cross country coach, he has produced three Missouri Valley Conference individual champions, 13 all-conference, 10 scholar-athletes and an All-American on the men's side. On the women's side, the team has garnered four top-three finishes, seven all-conference and 19 scholar-athletes.

On the track, Sparks' athletes have experienced similar success. In 2008-2009, Schirmer for the second-straight season, swept the MVC distance titles winning cross country, the indoor 3k and 5k, being named the MVC Indoor Championships Men's Most Valuable Athlete. During the outdoor season, he swept conference honors in the 5k and 10k, qualifying for the NCAA National Championships in both events. Jason Ordway also earned a MVC title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, advancing to regionals. On the women's side, Megan Hoelscher advanced to regionals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, just missing a bid to nationals.

During the 2007-2008 campaign, Schirmer made his first sweep of the MVC Distance titles winning cross country, the indoor 3k and 5k, and the outdoor 5k and 10k titles. Also excelling in 2008 was Dan Dunbar who was USATF Junior National Champion (Columbus, OH) in the 10k and went on the place 19th at the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. In 2006, Ty-Nica Davis placed 13th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (Sacramento, Calif.) in the 800-meter run. Davis continues to train with the Sakukis as a volunteer coach and saw 2008 Olympic Trials success placing 9th running 2:03.22. Under Sparks' watch, SIU has qualified an athlete to the NCAA regional meet in every distance event, claiming 19 MVC individual championships along the way.

In addition to Davis (Six-time conference champion in the 4x400m relay and 800-meter run; USATF Junior All-American in 800m), other athletes in Sparks' charge include Noa Beitler (school recorder holder in the mile - 4:45.80) Brittani Christensen (school record holder in the 3000m steeplechase), Megan Hoelscher (2008 USATF Junior All-American in 3,000m Steeplechase), , Sarah Rinker (NCAA Regional Qualifier in 5000m run and indoor 5000m school record-holder ) and Joe Byrne (two time MVC Champion in the 5000 and 10,000-meter run).

In addition to what his runners have done on the course, Sparks' cross country athletes have been successful in the classroom as well. In fact, the 2002-2008 women's teams each achieved Academic All-American status with distinction, with the 2003 squad earning the second-highest GPA (3.61) in the country.

Prior to joining the Salukis, Sparks enjoyed a successful two-year coaching stint at Ohio State, where he also coached women's cross country and distance. The Lady Buckeye distance crew set school records in the 3000m steeplechase and the distance medley relay under Sparks' direction.

Sparks first started coaching at his alma mater, Indiana University, where he served as a graduate assistant and volunteer assistant coach for three years. He played a key role in the recruitment and development of many cross country and track and field athletes for the Hoosiers. Additionally, he helped lead the women's program to Big Ten Conference Indoor and Outdoor championships in 2000.

Before his coaching debut, Sparks came to Indiana as an athlete on the cross country and track teams. He gained valuable experience working with national champion and American record holder Bob Kennedy and Hall-of-Fame coach Sam Bell.

During his athletic days, Sparks was a consistent scorer at the Big Ten Championships on the track. In 1996, he narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA outdoor championships in Eugene, OR running a time of 14:12.82 in the 5,000m. Also, he ran in the top-three for the Hoosier cross country teams for four years.

A native of Noblesville, Ind., Sparks earned an education degree in general science and biology in 1997, and a master's degree in applied sport science in 1999.

In 1992, he graduated from Noblesville High School, where he was a three-time top-five finisher in the state cross country meet, and a four-time all-Indiana track and field recipient.

Sparks, and his wife, Emily, reside in Carbondale with their son, Samuel and daughter, Eliza.

• Led the Saluki men's cross country team to three MVC titles (2004, 2007, 2008).
• Guided Saluki women's cross country team to back-to-back runner-up finishes at MVC Championships.
• Coached 25 MVC Champions.
• Coached 75 all-MVC performers.
• Coached 51 MVC Scholar-Athletes.
• Coached seven NCAA qualifiers.
• Coached seven USATF Junior All-Americans.
• His last seven cross country teams earned Academic All-American status with distinction. His 2003 squad had the second-highest GPA (3.61) in the nation.
• Coached one USATF Junior National Champion and World Junior Competitor.