LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Cross Country and Track and Field Head Coach Gary Gardner has announced the hiring of Michael Rutt as the River Hawks' newest Assistant Coach.
 
"It's a real good match, Mike is as good as it gets," said Gardner.  "I have known of him since he was an athlete at UConn.  There is nothing our kids will experience that he has not already experienced." 
 
Rutt, who was chosen from more than 90 applicants for the position, will be responsible for working primarily with the middle distance runners.  He will also assist with the distance runners and core work with the strength and conditioning staff.  Rutt will be the cross country and track and field recruiting coordinator.
 
"Every reference we received was outstanding and our alums were very supportive," said Gardner.  "He has an extremely high work ethic."
 
"I love the program and was familiar with it from competing against UMass Lowell when I was in college," said  Rutt.  "With the move to Division I you can tell that the university is putting a lot of effort into not just the track and field program but the entire department.  That fit my mindset of competing against the best to be the best."
 
Rutt does have his name in the USA Track and field Record Book as part of a record setting 4 x 800 meter relay.  The team's time of seven-minutes, 13.22-seconds, in 2014, is currently second fastest by an American team.
 
"I love being able to work with athletes and share my knowledge and experience helping them to reach goals that might have seem unimaginable," said Rutt.  "Teaching is fun especially when you can see those things that you teach getting through to the athletes.  Then when they perform well they make you look good."
 
Rutt comes to UMass Lowell after working the last two years as an Assistant Coach with The College of New Jersey track and field program.  At TCNJ, a Division III program, Rutt worked closely with the middle distance and cross country runners.  The men's and women's cross country teams won two consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference cross Country Championships during that time.  He also was deeply involved in the recruiting process.  Prior to joining The College and New Jersey Rutt also worked as a private cross country and track and field coach.
 
Rutt was a four-time All American while competing as a middle distance runner at the University of Connecticut.  He was the runner-up at the 2011 NCAA Championships in the 800-meters and was a three-time Big East individual champion.  Rutt graduated from UConn in 2011 with a BS in Exercise Science.  He minored in Sports Nutrition.
 
Rutt and his family expect to live in the greater Lowell area.