BEREA, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University Director of Athletics Kris Diaz '78 has announced that Head Cross Country Coach Joe Eby has been promoted to Coordinator of Cross Country and Track and Field.  Eby, who takes over for Matthew Cole, will continue to serve as the head cross country coach as well as an assistant track and field coach in charge of the distance runners.

"We are very excited to have Coach Eby assume the role of Coordinator of Cross Country and Track and Field and continue as Head Cross Country Coach," stated Diaz.  "He has done a great job in recruiting, rebuilding our cross program and developing our distance runners. He has also been a key part in developing the positive culture and team chemistry surrounding the team. Having been a head coach before, he understands the importance of the "big picture" and taking the success he has had in developing the distance runners and spreading that to the entire team. He is active within our department in support of all programs and is a mentor for his student-athletes both on and off the track. We look forward to him assuming this new responsibility and returning our cross country and track and field programs to a championship level."

During his three seasons at BW, Eby has mentored a combined men's and women's 26 Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference, 16 All-Ohio, 10 All-OAC performers, one NCAA Division III Outdoor Track All-American, one Academic All-American runner, one OAC individual champion and one OAC relay champion.

"I am unbelievably excited and thrilled for this opportunity," commented Eby.  "I am overwhelmed how the administration especially President Bob Helmer, Senior Vice President Dick Fletcher, Director of Athletics Diaz and Faculty Athletics Representative Alan Kolp and Assistant Director of Athletics John Snell were during the entire process and how they were confident in me taking over this role.  BW is a wonderful place and I looked forward to continuing the culture and process we have established the past three years.  I want to take BW back to the top of the Ohio Athletic Conference and the NCAA as it was under Hall of Fame Coaches Sparky Adams and Bill Taraschke."

Eby came to BW after spending two years as the head cross country coach and distance coach at Sacramento State (Calif.) University.

Prior to Sacramento State, he served as a recruiting intern at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln) in 2012-13. There, Eby recruited nationally and internationally. In 2013, the Cornhusker men's team won the Big 10 Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

In 2011-12, he was a volunteer coach at Wichita State (Kan.) University where he coached Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton to multiple All-America honors in cross country and track. From 2009-11, Eby was the head coach at McPherson (Kan.) College where he was named as the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Outdoor Coach of the Year in 2011 and led student-athletes to NAIA national championships in eight events. 

In addition, Eby also had coaching stops as an assistant at Allegheny (Pa.) College and as a graduate assistant at DePauw (Ind.) University.  While at Allegheny, the team finished third at the NCAA Division III national meet.

Eby graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education from Mount Union College in 2004. He earned a master's degree in coaching from Indiana State University in 2006. Eby also has a Level II USATF coaches certification and is a USATF official.

As a collegiate athlete, Eby was a four-time OAC and Division III All-Ohio champion in the 800 and 1500-meter runs. He also was the All-Ohio champion in the mile run and a Division III All-American in the indoor 1500-meters in 2002.

Eby, who is a graduate of Walsh Jesuit High School, is married to the former Becky Zink.