Indiana Wesleyan University Women's Cross Country

Foss began his association with Indiana Wesleyan as a student-athlete, earning NAIA All-American status twice in cross country. During his tenure Foss has built the Indiana Wesleyan cross country program from a regionally competitive league contender to a consistent national contender. The Wildcats have won 34 league championships including the 2015 mens the 2011 womens titles. Student-athletes under Coach Foss include 18 NAIA All-Americans and 10 team finishes in the top-10 at the NAIA National Championships. The Indiana Wesleyan men placed 3rd at the 2015 national championship. The highest women's finish was in 2000 when the team finished third and Foss was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year. The Wildcats consistently place a large number of NAIA Scholar-Athletes on the board year in and year out. Foss served as the President of the NAIA Coachs Association in 2006 and 2007. Several alumni are currently coaching at the intercollegiate, high school, and junior high levels and a number of Indiana Wesleyan alumni are continuing to compete post collegiate. John is married to Beth Foss and has four children. His son Josh was an NAIA National Champion in the 4x800 and NAIA national runner-up in the 1,500 in 2008 while his daughter Alyssa ran for him and graduated in 2014. Lee Smith graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University and the track and field program in the spring of 1980. He worked at IWU for a few years as an admissions counselor and then continued his education toward a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy at Duke University. The 2014-15 season is Smith's 30th as a coach. Lee Smith currently owns a physical therapy center in Marion and has watched his business grow into the most respected and successful PT clinic in the area. Smith served in transition as the head cross country coach in the mid-1980s until his business grew to the point where it was difficult to do both jobs. Since Foss came in 1987, he has been the assistant coach, adding tremendous value and experience to the program. Smith and his wife Lori both run the family business and Lori often travels with the team. She is famous throughout the program for her desserts and her compassion for the athletes on the team.