UMBC Director of Athletics Brian Barrio has tabbed former Retriever staffer Michael DuPaul as the women's and men's cross country programs' head coach. DuPaul, who served as assistant cross country and track and field coach on Hilltop Circle from 2015-2017, will also coach the distance runners on UMBC's track and field squads.

DuPaul has spent the last five seasons as assistant cross country and track and field coach at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa.

In 2020, DuPaul helped lead the men's cross country team to a third place finish (their highest since 1998) at the Patriot League Championships. He helped lead two runners into the top 10, and five in the top 20. Ryan Branch's seventh place finish was the highest finish in the modern era of the Patriot League.

DuPaul also helped lead the men to a ninth place finish at the Mid-Atlantic Region, the highest in school history. On the women's side, the new Retriever mentor helped lead the women to a fourth place finish, at the Patriot League Championships. Ainsley Jacobs top ten finish was the second highest finisher in school history at the Patriot League Championships. He also helped lead the women to a 10th place finish at the Mid-Atlantic Region, the second highest finish in school history.

In 2021, DuPaul lead the men to a fourth place finish at the Patriot League Championships. With this finish, the men received a regional ranking of 10, which is the second highest in school history. Bobby Oehrlein became the Lafayette athlete in school history to make the Patriot League All-League team twice.

Athletes under DuPaul have run over 50 All-Time Top 10 performances in the five seasons he spent at Lafayette. Women athletes hold 23 top ten times in school history, with five of them being school records. The men have accounted for six top ten times in school history, with one of them being a school record. Finally, DuPaul has also coached Emily Moore, who received Academic All-American status for cross country.

In DuPaul's first season at UMBC, he helped guide Hassan Omar to All-America honors with a 27th place at the 2015 NCAA Championships. Omar earned the program's first-ever medalist honors at the 2015 America East Championships and also competed in the 2016 NCAA East Regionals in the 10,000 meters.

In 2017, DuPaul coached Sophia Cologer to an NCAA regional appearance in the steeplechase, UMBC's first female distance runner to quality for the meet.  

Prior to his time at UMBC, DuPaul spent five years as assistant cross country and track and field coach at the University of Hartford. He earned his M.S. degree in accounting and taxation at UH, after completing his B.S. in business administration at the University of Connecticut.

His certifications include: USTFCCCA Endurance Specialist, USTFCCCA Jumps Specialist, and USTFCCCA Strength and Conditioning.