APPLETON, Wis. -- Victor Finch, the head track and field coach at Ferris State University, is the new head cross country and track and field coach at Lawrence University.
Finch's hiring was announced Thursday by co-Interim Director of Athletics Chris Howard.
A native of Midland, Mich., Finch brings two decades of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level to the job. Finch also has coached two Olympic sprinters who ran in a combined three Olympic Games (1988, 1996, 2000).
"Vic brings an amazing perspective to the Lawrence cross country and track programs," Howard said. "With Vic's experience of coaching Olympic-caliber sprinters and NCAA Division I champions, it gives our student-athletes the opportunity to achieve great things. Vic will challenge them to strive for greatness because he knows what it takes to be the best, not only at the collegiate level, but in the world."
A graduate of Indiana State University, Finch majored in physical education and starred in cross country and track and field for the Sycamores.
"It's an exciting opportunity to come into a university like Lawrence where there is a huge emphasis on academics and a commitment to have successful athletic teams as well," Finch said.
Finch began his coaching career at Southwestern Michigan College, where he coached sprinter Laurel Johnson. Johnson was a national champion in Jamaica in the 100 and 200 meters and competed in the 1988 Olympics. Finch then served as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level at Indiana State, Eastern Michigan University, and Michigan State University and also coached at Northwood University, a NCAA Division II school.
While at Eastern Michigan, Finch coached four-time NCAA champion Savatheda Fynes of the Bahamas. Fynes competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, winning a gold medal in the 400-meter relay in 2000 and a silver medal in the same event in 1996. Another of Finch's proteges was Indiana State's Holi Hycha, who claimed 10 NCAA Division I titles and was ranked No. 1 in the world at 100 meters.
Finch also had success at Michigan State and Northwood. He coached Chandra Burns, one of the top-ranked 400-meter runners in the world, and three NCAA All-Americans at Michigan State. Finch also coached five NCAA All-Americans during his tenure at Northwood.
In one season as the head coach at Ferris State, Finch recruited and coached Amy Woodman to the 2008 NCAA title in the long jump. Ferris State had a school-record seven national qualifiers in 2008. In addition to his track and field duties, Finch was the assistant men's and women's cross country coach at both Northwood and Ferris State. In one season with the cross country squads at Ferris, both teams saw dramatic improvements in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Finch said making the transition from coaching at the Division I level to Division III is something he has thought about for a long time.
"That's been my train of thought since the late 1980s. That's what I wanted to do," Finch said. "That's been my goal to be at a small school. I think Lawrence is going to be a perfect fit."
Finch and his wife, Kelly, have twin boys, Alec and Matthew.
Lawrence opens its cross country season on Aug. 30 when it competes at the St. Norbert College Invitational.