Trine University Women's Track

Raber's first two seasons have been marked by a climb up in the conference standings. In his first season, the Thunder men earned their best finish in the MIAA since 2007 as the team placed fourth. The team produced all-conference runner Adam Schaaf during the 2014 campaign, the team's first all-league honoree in six season. The Thunder continued to climb up the conference standings during the 2015 season as the team placed third in the conference. The team has been led by a young core of runners who continue to improve. Trine's women's program has also seen improvement under Raber. In Raber's second season, the Thunder vaulted up three spots in the conference standings to tie for fourth in the MIAA. The finish was the team's best as a member of the conference. Kyla Binfet became the first Trine runner to earn All-MIAA honors since the school joined the MIAA in 2004. Prior to taking over at Trine, Raber spent 11 years as a high school coach at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne. While at Carroll, he led the Charger men to five Sectional titles, five Regional titles, and two Semi-State titles. During that time, Carrolls boys finished second at the Indiana State Championship twice. On the womens side, Raber led the Lady Chargers to 11-consecutive Sectional and Regional titles. Raber also led the Carroll ladies to four Semi-State titles and three top-five finishes at the Indiana State Championship. Both of Carrolls cross country teams were ranked in the top-50 nationally throughout Rabers tenure. Individually, Raber coached 25 student-athletes to All-State finishes in Indiana for both track and cross country, including three state champions. On the national level, Raber coached 10 All-Americans between track and cross country. In 2013, his boys 3200-Meter Relay Team won the New Balance National Outdoor Championship after earning All-American status the previous season. An 11-time nominee for Indiana Cross Country Coach of the Year, Raber won the award for boys cross country in 2012. Originally from Bluffton, Indiana, Raber attended Norwell High School where he accumulated three All-State finishes in track and cross-country. He went on to attend Wabash College where he graduated with a B.A. in History in 1998. He earned his masters degree in Coaching from Ball State University in 2008.  As a collegiate athlete, Raber ran for legendary coach Rob Johnson, who also coached on the 2000 Olympic staff. Raber was part of three national qualifying teams and two teams that placed 4th and 3rd respectively at the Division III National Championship in cross-country. In 2013 Raber and his 1994 & 1995 Wabash cross-country teams were inducted into the Wabash College Hall of Fame.  Raber currently resides in Fort Wayne with his wife, Erin, and two sons. 

Cope's time at Trine has been marked by success on the national stage. Cope has coached Kara Eck to appearances at six national championship events in two seasons. Under Cope's guidance, Eck has won All-America honors twice during the indoor season (weight throw, shot put) and once during the outdoor campaign (hammer throw). The 2016 indoor season saw Sam Gilly become the first Trine men's thrower to earn All-America honors since 2004. Gilly finished eighth in the nation in the weight throw was named the MIAAs Field MVP during. Trine throwers were instrumental in helping lead the Thunder men to winning the inaugural MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. Under Cope, the Thunder throwers also made huge strides during the 2014-15 season. Eck qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championships during the both the indoor and outdoor seasons, earning All-America honors in the weight throw during the indoor campaign. Dakota Bagwell also set the MIAA record in the hammer throw at MIAA Field Day. Thunder throwers were instrumental in leading the men's team to its best-ever finish as a member of the conference.

Lile has helped to bring our athletes to a higher level of competition. Vaulters coached by Lile have broken the Trine women's pole vault record, tied the Trine men's pole vault record, and won several MIAA conference meets.

Wares teams produced three individual state qualifiers, one third-place finish in the state, eight conference champions, seven sectional champions, and one Regional Champion. Ware's athletes earned accolades in a wide variety of events, ranging from vertical jumps to short sprints and distance. Originally from Utica, Ohio, Ware attended Utica High School where he competed in cross country, track and field and wrestling. He went on to attend Trine University, where he graduated with a B.S. in Computer Engineering in 2013. As a collegian Ware participated in track and field as a javelin thrower. Ware currently resides in Angola. 

Waters, a former NAIA national champion, enters his third season as head coach of the Trine University mens and womens track and field teams. Waters specializes in the hurdles, sprints, relays and jump events. He is USATF level 2 certified in the sprints, hurdles, relays. In 2014 Waters first season, the Thunder produced three NCAA DIII All-American performances. Waters was responsible for coaching Indoor and Outdoor 400-meter All-American Tyler Bourdo. The Thunder also produced 800-Meter Indoor All-American Trisha King, who was also a national qualifier in the event during the 2014 Outdoor season. Under Waters guidance, the 2015 Trine track and field programs improve immensely. In Waters second season the programs rosters were built up to competitive levels, as a result the programs combined for 21 new school records. During the Indoor season the Thunder produced three national qualifiers, garnering two All-American honors. Waters was responsible for coaching 400-meter Indoor All-American Tyler Bourdo. The Thunder also produced Weight Throw Indoor All-American Kara Eck. The momentum carried to the outdoor season, as the men's track and field capped off one of the most impressive outdoor seasons in program history, with its best-ever finish in the MIAA, as the Thunder placed second. Athletes under Waters tutelage accounted for 99.5 of the teams 182.5 points. Furthermore Waters was responsible for coaching the MIAA Most Valuable Track Athlete and three of the four All-MIAA performers. The women's team also made strides with an All-MIAA performer and a sixth-place finish. During the outdoor season the Thunder produced 2 national qualifiers. In Waters first season of collegiate action, Waters coached 20 NAIA national qualifiers, 3 individual NAIA All-Americans, 1 mens 4x400m NAIA All-American honors. Before coming to Trine, Waters was an assistant coach at NCAA DI Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne for three seasons. Prior to joining the college ranks, Waters coached girls cross country and both boys and girls track and field at the high school level. During his time at the high school ranks, Waters coached 15 state qualifiers, 13 Indiana All-state athletes. As an athlete, Waters garnered eight All-American honors and in 2008, he was crowned the NAIA national champion by winning the 110m hurdles.  A Fort Wayne native, Waters graduated from Wayne High School in 2004. Waters holds a bachelors degree in business administration from Indiana Tech.