Lech enters his 16th season as head coach and 23th overall at UMaine as part of the the track and field and cross country staff in 2021-22. Lech is primarily responsible for coaching the distance runners as well as both cross country teams.
Before he was named head coach of the Maine track and field and cross country programs in September 2006, he previously served as an assistant coach at UMaine since 1998.
Under Lech's leadership, the track and cross country teams have flourished on the track and off over the past two decades.
In 2016, Lech mentored America East Men's Individual champion Jesse Orach. Under the guidance of Lech over his four years, Orach won numerous races and graduated as one of Maine's most decorated runners. As a team, the 2016 men's cross country squad placed second at the America East Championships.
He coached the 2009 women's cross country team to a runner-up finish after being selected fifth in the preseason poll behind America East champion Corey Conner. Conner would go on to compete in the NCAA Championships after finishing ninth at the NCAA Regional.
Lech also was instrumental in guiding Riley Masters to the 2009 America East Indoor and Outdoor Most Outstanding Rookie awards as well as becoming the first Black Bear to break the 4-minute mile barrier. Masters would go on to the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships in the mile where his fifth-place finish would get him All-American honors.
Lech's teams have also been instrumental in the classroom as the 2009 men's and women's track and cross country teams were named All-Academic by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association.
He came to Maine after spending 15 years as a student and as a coach at Northeastern University. A 1979 graduate of Northeastern, Lech was a two-time All-American for the Huskies, placing second in the nation in 1978 and third in 1977 in the 800-meter run. He also competed in the 1980 Olympic Trials in the 800 meters. His time of 1:48.10 in the 800 meters in the 1977 New Englands still stands as a record. After graduation, he coached cross country and track at Newton North High School and Brandeis University before returning to his alma mater in 1987. He was involved with coaching the Northeastern cross country and track and field programs in various capacities from 1987 to 1998, including heading the men's cross country and track and field teams. As the head coach, he earned seven conference Coach of the Year honors between cross country and track and field and was named New England Intercollegiate Athletic Association Division I Coach of the Year for both indoor and outdoor track in 1991. He led the Huskies to ten Conference Championships and annually produced the leading contenders for the New England Championships.
Lech led the Maine men's country team to a second place finish at the America East Championships in 2000 while the 2004 team won the conference championship. Both the men's and women's cross country teams were also honored in 2001 for having the highest grade point average of all the teams the previous year. Lech and Jim Ballinger were honored as the 2004 Cross Country Coaching Staff of the Year.
