The coach of both the Ohio State men’s track and field and cross country teams, Ed Beathea, announced his resignation Tuesday, according to an OSU press release.
The Indiana native is set to head back to Indiana University, where he spent 10 seasons as both an assistant coach and the Hoosiers’ associate head coach, and is slated to assume his former position as associate head coach for the 2014-2015 season, according to the Indiana athletics site.
Beathea, who has been the coach of the men’s track and field program at OSU since 2012 and an associate coach in the program since 2006, is set to continue coaching the Buckeyes through the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships later this month.
In a statement in the press release, Beathea expressed his gratitude for the eight years he spent at OSU as a coach in the track and field program, and expressed that it was the right time for him to move forward.
“My family and I will always be grateful for the opportunity the Ohio State University has provided me and the university will provide us with fond memories,” Beathea said. “I am leaving this program in a very positive place. We have built a strong team that has proven the ability to compete at a national level. It was a difficult decision but in the end it is a good decision for me and my family. Thank you for supporting me and our program.”
T.J. Shelton, the associate athletics director for sport administration at OSU, also made a statement in the release thanking Beathea for his time in Columbus.
“The department of athletics would like to thank coach Ed Beathea for his leadership over the past eight years, including two as head coach of the men’s track field and cross country programs,” Shelton said. “We wish Ed and his family the best as they move forward with their next chapter of their lives. We will begin a national search immediately for the next head coach to lead our program.”
Since taking over the program in 2012, Beathea has coached 2013 First Team All-American Michael Hartfield, 2014 Second Team All-American LaMar Bruton, and the 2014 Big Ten Indoor Champion in the 4×400 relay, Jordan Rispress.
The 2014 NCAA Track and Field Championships are slated to run from June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore., and both Burton and Rispress are set to represent OSU at the event.
