BEREA, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University Director of Athletics Steve Thompson has announced the hiring of Paul Ashby and Dave Johnson as the next men's and women's bowling head coaches.

Ashby and Johnson come to BW after serving as the men's and women's bowling head coaches at the former NCAA Division II Notre Dame College that closed at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.

"We are excited to have Paul and Dave join the Yellow Jacket family as our next bowling coaches," stated Thompson.  "They both bring a level of experience and winning that will take our programs to an elite level at Division III."

Ashby was the head men's coach at Notre Dame for nine seasons.  He led the Falcons to the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Team Championships on five occasions and the 2016 team finished third at the USBC Sectional Championships.   Ashby was a 2016 USBC Collegiate Coach of the Year finalist. He mentored four Intercollegiate Singles Championship (ISC) finalists.  Ashby is a three-time Professional Bowling Association (PBA) Champion and a member of the USBC Ohio State Hall of Fame and the USBC Lake Geauga Association Hall of Fame.   Ashby is the owner of King of String Pro Shop for 14 years and has been a sponsor of professional member of Team Storm for nine years

""I'm incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to continue coaching at Baldwin Wallace University," said Ashby.  "I look forward to many successful seasons for our student athletes on and off the lanes!"

Johnson served as the coordinator of bowling operations and head women's coach for one season.  Prior to Notre Dame, he was the head women's bowling coach at Hilliard Bradley High School for five seasons.  While at Bradley, Johnson won three Ohio Capital Conference Division Championships.  He also had coached The Ohio State University club women's bowling team for two seasons, including guiding the team to the National Collegiate Club Championship. Johnson also was named the Ohio Bowlers Conference Women's Coach of the Year. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Johnson has been involved with the sport of bowling since the age of seven as he grew up in a family of avid bowlers. Johnson has competed in several American Bowling Congress (ABC) and USBC National Tournaments.

"I am extremely excited to be the new women's bowling coach at Baldwin Wallace," commented Johnson. "I am looking forward to building a bowling team with the support of the athletic department at this fantastic university. The sport of bowling in the college environment is growing and is so fun to be a part of that wave. My experience and knowledge of this sport will help lead the Yellow Jackets to the highest levels.  I am very excited to get things rolling."

Ashby and Johnson will guide the BW bowling programs into its second seasons this coming fall.