BEREA, Ohio --  Dr. William “Bill” Taraschke is in his 31st and final year of coaching cross country and track and field at Baldwin Wallace University in 2014-2015. Taraschke announced his retirement from coaching at the 2014 fall cross country banquet on Sunday, December 7 at Strosacker Hall. The 2015 indoor and outdoor track season will be his last.

Taraschke is simply a legend at BW, in the Ohio Athletic Conference, in the Great Lakes Region of Division III and at the NCAA Division III national level.

During his outstanding career, Taraschke has guided the Yellow Jacket men’s and women’s track & field teams for the past 30 seasons and the University’s cross country teams for the past 24 years. He also serves as a professor in BW’s Division of Health and Physical Education.

Overall, Taraschke has led 47 BW teams to OAC titles. He has been named the OAC Coach of the Year on 35 separate occasions and the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year 13 times.

In his 30-plus seasons as indoor and outdoor track & field head coach, Taraschke has guided 35 teams to OAC championships, including 15 consecutive women’s crowns from 1988 to 2002. In addition, 16 of his women’s outdoor teams have won OAC championships, including capturing seven straight on two separate occasions. Taraschke was named the NCAA Division III Women’s Track and Field National Coach of the Year in both 1997 and 2002.

In 24 seasons at the helm of the BW cross country program, Taraschke has guided 12 women’s squads to OAC titles and 12 student-athletes to the OAC “Runner of the Year” award (nine women and three men). Prior to coaching cross country, he was a successful offensive backfield and kicking coach for the Yellow Jacket football program.

“Bill is an outstanding member of the BW community from both the academic and athletic realms,” said BW Director of Athletics Kris A. Diaz. “His accomplishments in coaching are exemplary and he is well respected locally, regionally and nationally within the track and field community. He is a true example of the teacher and coach. Bill has been a colleague, friend and mentor to many here at BW.”

Prior to coming to Berea, Taraschke was the head coach in track & field as well as the defensive coordinator in football at Chadron State College in Nebraska from 1975 through 1983.

A two-time Mid American Conference discus champion at Ohio University, Taraschke grew up in Toledo and graduated from Libbey High School. He received his undergraduate degree in 1964, his master’s degree at Southern Illinois University in 1966 and his Ph.D. from the University of Toledo in 1984. Taraschke previously coached at the high school level in Ohio at Milan Edison (1966-69), Canton GlenOak (1969-71) and Brookside (1971-75).

Taraschke is a member of the NCAA Track Coaches Association; the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; a member of numerous academic honoraries and a guest lecturer at many respected clinics. Taraschke also served as an NCAA Division III track & field chairperson and was the meet director for four NCAA national meets and Ohio State Games.

He and his wife Denny reside in Berea.

Baldwin Wallace University will be conducting a national search for Taraschke’s replacement and more information will become available in the coming months. BW is a comprehensive liberal arts institution located in Berea, Ohio, a suburb 12 miles southwest of Cleveland with an undergraduate enrollment of 3,000 students. The University is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.