Matt Wackerly

Biography

Matt Wackerly is an assistant coach for Nebraska's cross country and track and field distance squad, moving into that role ahead of the 2023 season. Wackerly has been with the Nebraska track and field and cross country programs since 2016 and has more than 20 years of coaching experience. He was Nebraska's head cross country coach from 2021-22. He had also served as the Huskers' recruiting coordinator since 2016 before taking over the cross country program following the retirement of David Harris in 2021. Wackerly and cross country head coach Megan Elliott helped Berlyn Schutz achieve a 16th-place finish at the 2025 Big Ten Cross Country Championships, the best finish by a Husker since 2021. On the track, NU's distance and middle distance runners achieved 16 all-time top-10 marks on the women's side in 2025, including school records in the mile, 3000m and 1500m. Additionally, NU's distance medley relay squad ran the second-fastest time in school history. The NU men posted six top-10 times in 2025, including the second-fastest indoor 800m in school history. In 2024, the women's cross country team placed 11th at the Big Ten Championships and fifth at the NCAA Midwest Regional. Ali Bainbridge grabbed a fifth-place finish as an individual at the NCAA Midwest Regional and became the first Husker since 2021 to qualify for the NCAA Championships. She finished 76th, the highest finish by a Husker since 2008. Bainbridge earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors and NCAA All-Midwest Region

Career Path