VESTAL, N.Y. – Longtime head cross country and distance track & field coach Annette Acuff has announced the hiring of Zach Lefever as an assistant coach. He will serve as an assistant coach during both the cross country and track & field seasons at Binghamton.

A 2021 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Lefever was an assistant track & cross country coach at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) during the 2022-23 academic year. He earned his master's degree from UMass in May 2023. Lefever has been an assistant coach at Westfield State since July 2023.

UMass won the women's 2023 NEICAAA indoor track & field title as well as the 2022 NEICAAA men's cross country championship. During that span, Lefever assisted with coaching NEICAAA medalists in the 800, mile, 3,000 and 5,000.

At Pittsburgh, Lefever earned All-Mid Atlantic Region Cross Country honors when he finished 23^rd overall at the 2019 regional meet. He also advanced to the NCAA East Region Outdoor Track & Field twice in the 3,000 Steeplechase, earning a career-best 21^st-place finish in 2019.

"We are very excited to have Zach join our program," Acuff said. "Zach has excellent experience at the Division I level and will be a natural fit for us.  His hire will help significantly in our recruiting efforts."

Currently, Lefever is a member of the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) Racing Team.

Binghamton won the 2023 America East women's cross country title and tied for third place on the men's side. Acuff was named the 2023 America East Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year.