Otterbein University Women's Cross Country

Ford is in her third year as the mens and womens head track and field/cross country coach. Ford, 32, came to Otterbein from John Carroll University where she served in the same position, coaching the cross country teams from 2008-13 and track and field from 2010 until her departure. I consider myself extremely lucky to have the opportunity to coach a well-established, successful program, Ford said. The Otterbein track and field and cross country programs will be relentless in their pursuit of excellence. Our successes aren't just our own, the talented successful athletes of the past have established a standard of excellence that we will strive to surpass every day. At John Carroll, Ford was instrumental in growing the track and field/cross country programs. As an example, she grew a womens cross country team of six members in 2007 to an OAC championship team of 25 in 2013. Ford, a native of Canton, Ohio, earned her bachelors degree in biology with a minor in adolescent to young adult education in 2005 from the University of Mount Union where she was a three-time Academic All-American. She received the Clyde Lamb Award, which is presented annually to the top female and male senior student-athlete at each OAC school. Ford was a five-time national qualifier in cross country and 3000-meter steeplechase, and still holds Mount Union records in the indoor 3000-meter run, steeplechase, and outdoor 5000-meter run. In addition to coaching, Ford has served as head counselor at Arc of Stark County for one month each summer since 2002. She is also working on her masters degree in biology at John Carroll. Creating a championship culture at Otterbein has been my main objective - a place where student-athletes are committed to the program, believe in their abilities, and possess and develop the confidence to do great things on and off the running surface, Ford said. Dara Ford is in her third year as the mens and womens head track and field/cross country coach.

McClelland is now in her second season as graduate assistant coach for the Otterbein University cross country and track and field programs. McClelland, a 2014 graduate of Christopher Newport University, was a 14-time all-conference performer on the track, breaking five school records and two conference records (indoor mile, outdoor 1500) in the process. She was a member of five Capitol Athletic Conference championship squads and qualified for the 2014 NCAA championships in the 1500. McClelland enjoyed success on the cross country course as well, earning all-conference honors every season and playing a key role on three conference championship teams. She ran her way to all-region honors as a senior, garnering a pair of national all-academic honors that same year before graduating, magna cum laude, with a degree in biology. McClelland is working on her masters degree in allied health at Otterbein.  

Gibson begins his first season as assistant coach for mens and womens cross country and track and field at Otterbein University, his alma mater. Gibson comes to Otterbein from Ohio Northern University where he spent three seasons (2011-14) as the recruiting coordinator for the Polar Bears track and field/cross country programs. He received USATF Level 1 certification in 2013. Gibson graduated from Otterbein with a bachelors degree in sport management in 2011. The Liberty Township, Ohio native earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) honors three times in track and field as a member of the Otterbein distance medley and 4x800 relay teams; and earned Academic All-OAC honorable mention honors his senior season. He ranks fifth all-time in the 1,500-meter run at Otterbein in 3:56.32.