Matt Lydum is enters his sixth season as a coach with the Defiance College Track and Field program, where he works closely with athletes in the jumping and throwing events. Lydum served as DC’s head coach for three seasons, before accepting a faculty position in 2007. During his time at Defiance, Lydum has helped the Jackets compile 27 All-HCAC performers, 10 NCAA provisional qualifiers and three All-Americans.

Prior to coming to Defiance, Lydum spent nine seasons coaching at San Franciso State. While with the Gators, Lydum was named USTCA Regional coach of the year and developed a number of team and conference champions.

He is actively involved in the sport of track and field at the national and international levels. He has served on the USA coaching staff for the World Championships in Youth Athletics and as USOC delegate to the International Olympic Academy. As a coaching educator, he has certified hundreds of high school coaches in the Great Lakes region and around the country and coordinates the Instructor Training Course for USA Track & Field. He is the project writer for a book titled "Coaching Youth Track & Field" that was published by Human Kinetics in 2008.