Former Hilltopper, Ron Becht arrives on The Hill as the Head Cross Country and Track Distance coach after numerous coaching stops in Canada.
Most recently, Becht was the associate cross country coach at Fanshawe College where he assisted the Falcons to five National College Cross Country Championships. Prior to joining the Falcons, he had two runs as the middle distance coach at the University of Western Ontario from 1992-96 and 2011-13, while producing national podium results with the Mustangs.
Becht was the head track and field coach with the Tillsonburg Legion Track Club for six years. He mentored and shaped national contenders and Team Canada selections for junior and senior athletes. In his first coaching job, Becht was an assistant at the University of Windsor from 1988-1990.
As an athlete, Becht was the NCAA record holder in the 2000 meter in 1981, while also competing for Team Canada in the Bourges Relays Paris in 1981, Eight Nations Meeting in 1982, and World Cross Country Championships in 1984. He was the Canadian Indoor Champion in 1981 in the 800 meter, while reaching the Canadian Olympic Trial finals in the 1500 meter for the '84 Games.
A Hilltopper from 1978-1981, he owned sub-four minute miles and was 41st at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 5000 meters.
Becht, a Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada native, earned his degree in physical education from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, and resides in Bowling Green.
