BEREA, Ohio -- Baldwin Wallace University Director of Athletics Kris A. Diaz '78 has named Matthew Cole as the school's new coordinator of cross country and track and field and head track and field coach. Cole replaces Dr. William Taraschke, who is retiring at the completion of the 2015 season after serving the University for 30 years. He will begin is official duties on July 1.
“We are excited to add a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and energetic coach in Matthew to our cross country and track programs ” said Diaz. “It is great that he had competed at a high level in the OAC and he knows what it takes to be successful not only in the conference but at the national level. He has developed successful student-athletes both on and off the track. Matthew’s father (Larry) was a successful OAC coach and we are happy to have him continue his family lineage and success here in Berea. We welcome Matthew to the BW family.”
“I want to thank Director of Athletics Mr. Kris Diaz and the entire search committee for selecting me as the next head coach at Baldwin Wallace,” stated Cole. “ I am extremely excited and honored to take over one of the most prestigious men’s and women’s track & field and cross country programs in the OAC and NCAA Division III history.”
While at River Falls, Cole has coached three All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women cross country runners, one All-WIAC Track and Field Champions. He also has coached eight All-WIAC relay teams. Cole led the women’s cross country team to a 10th place finish and the men’s team placed 15th at the NCAA Division III Midwest regional in his first season.
Prior to River Falls, Cole was the head women's cross country coach and assistant men’s and women’s track and field coach at the Rose-Hulman. In cross country, he coached 10 All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) runners, one HCAC individual champion; the first in school history; two HCAC meet runners-up, the HCAC Most Valuable Athlete of the Year and one National Meet qualifier. In track and field, Cole coached five NCAA individual National Champions, three individual National Meet runners-up, 14 NCAA All-Americans, 26 male HCAC individual champions and 19 female HCAC individual champions. He also coached six HCAC male Most Outstanding track athletes and six HCAC female Most Outstanding track athletes. Cole helped lead the men's team to six outdoor HCAC team championships and three indoor HCAC team championships while the women’s team won the 2011 HCAC indoor team championship.
Cole has been recognized as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) men's Great Lakes Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010 as well as the USTFCCCA Women’s Great Lakes Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Outside of his coaching duties, Cole has served as the meet director for the 2013 WIAC Cross Country Championships, the 2012 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships and the 2012 NCAA Pre-National Meet. He also was the co-meet director at the 2009 NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional, the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships National Championships in 2007 and 2009, the 2009 HCAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2009 and the HCAC Indoor Track and Field Championships in 2012.
Cole earned a Bachelor of Arts in media computing and sports management from Mount Union in 2005. While at Mount Union, he earned four varsity letters in track and one in football. Cole was a two-time national champion in football and was a four-time OAC Champion in the high hurdles. He earned a Master of Science in coaching theory & administration from Indiana State University.