Director of track and field & cross country Guy Murray announced today the hiring of Brad Fairchild as the Titans new assistant coach. At UDM, Fairchild will serve as the recruiting coordinator, and work with the sprint, hurdle and jump unit. 

“I am thrilled to have Brad join the staff,” said Murray. “To get a coach of Brad's caliber and experience is a tremendous boost to the program. The athletes will enjoy working with Brad and he will definitely help our continuing push back to the top of the Horizon League.” 

A veteran coach in the state of Michigan, Fairchild spent nine years as the head coach for the men's track and field program at nearby Eastern Michigan (2001-10), where he led the Eagles to 10 Mid-American Conference (seven indoor and three outdoor) and five Central College championships. 

“I am excited to be here and looking forward to working with both the men and women,” said Fairchild. “I am eager and really looking forward to the start of practice next week.” 

During his tenure, 88 athletes and relay teams won MAC titles (46 indoors, 42 outdoors) along with two NCAA champions in Boaz Cheboiywo (2002, 10,000 meters) and Jordan Desilets (2004, steeplechase). He mentored four All-Americans in Cheboiywo, Desilets, Corey Nowitzke and Gavin Thomson. Fairchild also saw over 30 Eagles earn All-League honors with 12 student-athletes named as the MAC Most Valuable Performer, while another seven Eagles were selected as the Most Outstanding Track Performance. 

Fairchild has earned a plethora of coaching honors throughout his career, including the MAC Coach of the Year in indoor track seven times (2001, '02, '03, '04, '06, '07 and '08), while taking home the honor three times during the outdoor campaign (2001, '01, '07). He was also named the Central Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year in indoor track five times (2001, '02, '03, '04, and '06), as well as CCC Outdoor Coach of the Year twice (2001 and 2002) 

A native of Alma, MI, Fairchild was an All-State performer in track at St. Louis High School. He went on to earn four letters in track and field at Ferris State, where he was a conference champion and NCAA Division II All-American in the 400-meter hurdles. He also graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management in 1990. 

After college, he remained at Ferris State for two years as assistant coach before moving onto a graduate assistant position for the women's track team at Central Michigan in 1992. In 1993, he joined the EMU coaching staff under legendary coach Bob Parks until assuming the head coaching position in 2001. 

The 43-year old Fairchild has been married to his wife Sue for 15 years and the couple has two daughters, Madison (13) and Emma (8) and one son, Ben (6).