Former Iowa standout Matt Esche (pronounced esh-EE) was named assistant men's and women's cross country coach and track and field coach in August 2010 and is in his fifth year with the Braves.
This past year (2013-14), Bradley had one of its most successful seasons with sophomore Kristen Busch claiming both the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference 10,000 meter championship (outdoor) and 5,000 meter (indoor) championship. Busch, who ran in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters at the NCAA West Preliminary, finished 18th in the nation in the 10,000 meters and was the first Brave to compete at the NCAA Championship since 1998. In addition, Emily Delvo swept the 800 & 1,500 meter titles at the Valley’s Outdoor Championship to become just the fourth individual in league history to do so. Delvo also claimed the 800 meter title at the MVC Indoor Championship.
On the men’s side, juniors Eric Delvo and Chase Coffey were the first Bradley men to advance to the NCAA Regional since the mid 1970’s with both runner in the steeplechase at the NCAA West Prelim. The track success, which also included school record point totals for the Bradley women’s team at both the indoor and outdoor championships, came on the heels of a very successful cross country season.
The Braves produced three All-Valley runners, the MVC Freshman of the Year, two All-Region runners and the MVC Elite 18 Award winner on the women’s side in cross country. A second-place finish for the Bradley women was the teams best since 2002. Delvo and Coffey were both all-conference performers for the men’s cross country squad, which also boasted the Valley’s Freshman of the Year, giving the Braves two All-MVC runners for the first time since 1987. They helped Bradley to its best Valley finish (4th) since 1989 and best NCAA Regional finish (13th) since 1996.
During his first season on The Hilltop, Esche helped mentor standout Mary Goldkamp who set five school track records and earned all-conference honors in cross country, indoor track & field (mile) and outdoor track & field (800 & 1,500 meters). Goldkamp went on to compete in the 1,500 meters at the NCAA West Regional, where she reached the regional finals.
The 2011-12 school year, saw the reinstatement of the men's outdoor track and field team after Bradley disbanded the team following the 1991-92 season. Freshman Sarah McMahon was a three-time all-conference performer on the women's side after third-place finishes in the 5,000 meters at both the MVC Indoor & Outdoor Championships in addition to a seventh-place finish at the MVC Cross Country championships.
The 2011-12 women's track and field team collected its highest point total at the Valley's outdoor championship since 2000, while the men's team competed in its first conference championship since 1992 and finished with its highest point total since 1986. At the MVC Indoor Championship, the women's team finished seventh and also had the squad's highest point total since 2000.
In 2012-13, the Bradley men’s cross country squad posted its best finish at the NCAA Regional since 2007 in addition to the men’s track and field team earning its highest point total at the MVC Outdoor Championship since 1987. On the women’s side, Sarah McMahon helped highlight another strong finish with all-conference honors in cross country in addition to garnering all-conference honors at both the indoor and outdoor conference track and field championships. McMahon qualified for the NCAA Track and Field West Regional in Austin, Texas, in the 10,000 meters during the outdoor season to cap the year.
Esche came to Bradley after spending the previous year with the track and field team at Butler, where he assisted with day-to-day operations of the track and field and cross country teams in addition to serving as meet director for the annual Stan Lyons track meet.
A 2006 graduate of Iowa, Esche earned degrees in English and health and sports studies during his time in Iowa City. Prior to his time at Butler, he was an assistant track and field coach at Nicholls State. The Colonels set eight track and field records during his year in Thibodaux, La., in addition to posting the school's best-ever conference and regional finishes in cross country.
Esche started his coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach at Iowa, assisting with both the cross country and track and field teams for three seasons. During his time on the coaching staff the Hawkeyes men's cross country team finished 28th at the NCAA Championship and third in the 2006 NCAA Midwest Region.
The school record holder in the 10K, Esche qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championship in three of his four seasons and was named Iowa's Cross Country Outstanding Athlete following both his freshman and junior seasons. He also lettered in track and field, where he earned the school's Outstanding Track & Field Freshman Athlete of the Year award in 2002.
He currently serves as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Midwest Representative.