Bio

Matt Barber completed his fifth year as the University of Dallas men’s cross country head coach.

The men's team finished sixth at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) and United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Championships. Under Barber's guidance, sophomore Joseph Kilmer has produced the top Dallas time in every race he has been in. He headlined the team with a second place finish at the TLU Collgiate Invite and third at the University of the Ozarks College Invitational. He was 15th out of 133 runners at the USCAA Championship. 

Dallas continues to battle within an improving SCAC, as the roster increased to 15 for Barber, the largest during his coaching stint.

The men's team did well academically, as Barber had a quartet that included: Elijah Depew, Peter Hedlesky, John James, and Gabe Vazquez notch spots on the USCAA National All-Academic Team, which requires a 3.5 GPA or higher. Vazquez would be named UD Scholar-Athlete of the Year in May, 2019.

In February, the Crusaders were tabbed with an U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) Academic Award with a 3.19 GPA.

During his tenure, the program has had two runners achieve record times with Ryan McAnany (Austin College Invitational on October 18, 2014) in the 5,000 Meters and Thomas Hogan (USCAA Championship on November 11, 2016) in the 8,000 Meters.

Altogether there have been three Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) all-conference team selections and one United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) All-American.

In 2015, McAnany was able to secure an All-SCAC First Team with sixth in the Conference Championship. Under Barber’s tutelage, he represented the Crusaders at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Championship.

In the classroom, Barber has placed nine on the USCAA National All-Academic Team. He has landed 31 UD runners on the SCAC Fall Academic Honor Roll, with a program-most nine making it in 2018.

Barber, a 2013 graduate at the University of Dallas with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, joined the coaching staff for his alma mater a little over a year later. He coached his first season with the cross country team in 2014. Both men’s and women’s teams earned third at the SCAC Championship.

The native of Fort Worth, Texas, lettered two years and remains the program record holder in the 400 Meters (50:07) and Distance Medley Relay. He landed on the 2013 Men’s Track & Field Spring Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll.

Barber was active on campus, with involvement as a member of Crusaders for Kids. He recruited for the organization at university social events and provided companionship to hospitalized children.

Prior to coaching at Dallas, Barber taught Theology and served as a track & field assistant coach at John Paul II High School in Plano, Texas. 

Barber holds a USA Track & Field Level I (Coach) designation, and is AED, CPR and First Aid certified.