Dr. Bill Taraschke completed his 24th year of coaching cross country at Baldwin-Wallace College in the fall of 2007. This fall, Taraschke led the Yellow Jacket women's cross country team to the Ohio Athletic Conference title. For their efforts, Taraschke and Assistant Coach Steve Virgilio are the 2007 OAC Women's Cross Country Coaching Staff of the Year.
Under Taraschke's tutelage, the Yellow Jacket men's and women's track and field and men's and women's cross country programs continue to be among the finest in Division III. In addition to coaching, Taraschke is a professor in B-W's Division of Health and Physical Education.
Entering the 2008 indoor track season, Taraschke has coached 45 teams to Ohio Athletic Conference titles (11 in cross country, including this season, and 34 in track). Taraschke has been named as the OAC Coach of the Year 34 times and NCAA Division III Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year 12 times. In both 1997 and 2002, he was selected as the NCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track Coach of the Year.
Taraschke has coached track at B-W during his entire 24 years. Prior to becoming cross country coach, Taraschke was the offensive backfield and kicking coach for the Yellow Jacket football team for eight seasons.
A two-time Mid American Conference discus champion, Taraschke was the head track and field coach and defensive coordinator at Chadron State College in Nebraska before coming to B-W. Taraschke previously was a head coach at Milan, Ohio Edison High School (1966-69), Canton, Ohio Glenoak High School (1969-71) and Brookside, Ohio High School (1971-75).
Taraschke is a member of the NCAA Track Coaches Association; the NCAA Division III Track & Field Rules Committee; the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; a number of educational honor societies; and has been a guest lecturer at numerous track and field clinics. Taraschke has served as the NCAA Division III national meet director twice and has been the track meet director for the Ohio State Games.
Taraschke received his undergraduate degree from Ohio University in 1964, his master's degree from Southern Illinois in 1966 and his doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Toledo in 1984.
To contact Head Coach Bill Taraschke, please call him at 440-826-3322 or e-mail him at wtarasch@bw.edu.
275 Eastland Rd.