BEREA, Ohio -- Baldwin Wallace University Director of Athletics Kris A. Diaz ‘78 and Coordinator of Cross Country and Track and Field and Head Track and Field Coach Matt Cole have hired Joe Eby as the school’s new men’s and women’s head cross county coach. Eby will also serve as an assistant coach in charge of distance runners for the Yellow Jacket track and field teams.
“We are pleased to have Coach Eby join the Baldwin Wallace family,” said Diaz, who served as an assistant football and track coach prior to assuming the athletics director duties in 2008. “Joe brings great energy, passion, and enthusiasm to our program and is highly regarded.”
"I look forward to working with Joe to rebuild the BW cross country and track programs into one of the best in Division III on an annual basis,” said Cole, who joined the BW athletics department earlier this July and took over for the legendary Dr. William Taraschke, who retired this spring. “The BW cross country and track programs have a rich tradition of excellence and success in both academics and athletics. Joe and I hope to build on that tradition.”
“I am beyond excited to work for Baldwin Wallace and to return to the Ohio Athletic Conference,” said Eby, who comes to BW after spending the past two years as the head cross country coach and distance coach at Sacramento State (Calif.) University. “I would like to thank President Helmer, Senior Vice President Fletcher, Director of Athletics Diaz and Coach Cole for giving me this opportunity. I am excited to get to work with the student athletes.”
Prior to Sacramento State, Eby served as a recruiting intern at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2012-2013. There, he recruited nationally and internationally. In 2013, the Cornhusker men’s team won the Big 10 Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
In 2011-2012, Eby 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 2009-2011, 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.
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 Ohio Athletic Conference 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.
