Dr. Marcel A. Hetu has lived in California most of his life and is a product of the California public education system where he graduated from Hillsdale High School in San Mateo. He completed an Associate Arts degree at the College of San Mateo, and then went to the University of Arizona on a track scholarship. His interest in sports allowed him to compete in cross country and track and field throughout his college years. He won the California Community College State Mile Championship and set the U.S. National Record for the 2-man ten mile record with his former high school teammate. It is now the oldest record still standing according toTrack and Field News. While at Arizona, Hetu majored in Education and earned a B.A. from that fine educational institution and later moved back to California.  He earned a Masters in Educational Administration from the University of San Francisco; and, a Masters in Sociology and Doctorate Degree in Philosophy from Tyumen State Oil and Gas University in the Russian Federation (Siberia).

Dr. Hetu began teaching and coaching at the middle school level in San Mateo. He also coached distance runners for the Millbrae Lions Running Club, and his teams won various national championships, as well as producing numerous Olympians in various track and field events. In the 1980s, Hetu started working as an instructor and coach at California State University, Hayward. His teams produced over 120 All-Americans, many school record holders, and conference championships. He was named the NCAA Division II Regional Coach of The Year numerous times in both cross country and track.  In 1979-80, Dr. Hetu had the opportunity to coach the Saudi Arabia National and Olympic Team. He was in charge of the distance runners and his runners also broke most of the Kingdom’s distance records during his stay.

Dr. Hetu has worked for Special Olympic, International in Washington, D.C., and Heald College, where he served in an administrative leadership position. He has also taught and coached at the high school level. He was named to the James Logan High School Hall of Fame for his contributions as a teacher, coach, and community work.

Marcel’s interests include music, running, reading, golf and dancing. He has a daughter, Yesenia, who is a bilingual elementary school teacher, and has just earned her doctorate degree at twenty-eight years young! She is the love of his life.