Brendan McMaster was introduced as the Head Cross Country and Head Women's Track and Field Coach in April 2022.
At the start of the 2024-25 academic year, McMaster was named the ECC Representative for the USTFCCCA Coaches Commitee, being the voice for the conference for the national organization.
During the 2023-24 academic season the McMaster coached teams took another step in becoming a strong team, having three runners earn ECC All-Conference recognition in women's cross country, adding one USTFCCCA All-Region member, and having the sweeping the ECC Elite 20 Award for both men's and women's cross country. As a team women's cross country placed third in the conference meet and ninth in the regional meet. Duriing the 2023-24 Indoor Track & Field season, the team had eight ECC All-Conference members and two earn USTFCCA All-Region honors. As a team, they placed sixth in the ECC Indoor Track & Field Championships. Moving onto the outdoor season, the success transferred over, having eight ECC All-Conference members and five USTFCCCA All-Region members. at the ECC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the team placed fourth and had the Most Outstanding Athlete of the Meet on the women's side.Â
On the academic side, McMaster had four student-athletes named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District while having one student-athlete named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-American team. The Track & Field team was also named NCAA DII All-Academic Team, posting he 10th best GPA in all of DII. McMaster also had one student-athlete named USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete.
In McMaster's first season with the program, the women's cross country was named the ECC Academic Team of Excellence, having the highest cumulative GPA within their respective sport.
McMaster comes to D'Youville from Park University. At Park, the young coach worked diligently to build the cross country and track programs from the ground up to compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and Cal-Pac Conference. During his time at Park, the women's cross country team finished third and the men's finished seventh at the Cal-Pac Conference Championships. As head coach of the track team, McMaster helped develop athletes for the NAIA National Indoor Track and Field Championships, sending one athlete in their first year of eligibility.
Prior to Park University, McMaster served as the Head Cross Country and Track coach at Poston Butte High School. His teams set 39 individual records in cross country and track and he led the Broncos to their first state championship appearance in program history. During his tenure, Poston Butte made the postseason every year, his players received All-America honors and were the first to receive scholarships for cross country from the school.
In 2018, McMaster received the "House Recognition" Award from the Joe Foss American Legion Post 97 in San Tan Valley for exemplary service as a coach and teacher. The award was for outstanding commitment and dedication as a coach, mentor, and teacher who gives much of his time before and after school in developing strong athletes and students of character.
McMaster began his collegiate running career at Mesa Community College where he was a 3x Junior College All-American. His time of 1:11:01 in the half marathon still stands as the program record at MCC.
A 2010 graduate of Brigham Young University at Hawaii in Laie, Hawaii, McMaster ran two years for the Seasiders. He received his degree in exercise and sport science. Athletically, McMaster still holds the 6k and 8K school records and is third all-time in program history in the 5K. McMaster is a two-time PacWest Division II First Team All-Conference member.
McMaster currently resides in Buffalo N.Y. with his wife Caitlin and four children – Margaret (8), Emily (5), Audrey (3), and Davis (1).
