Victor Finch (right), the head track and field coach at Ferris State University, is the new head cross country and track & 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).

A graduate of Indiana State University, Finch majored in physical education and starred in cross country and track and field for the Sycamores.

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.

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.

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Five Midwest Conference cross country student-athletes from three league schools were selected as to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association's (USTFCCCA) National All-Academic Team.

Grinnell led the MWC with three women’s selections, as senior Allison Louthan, junior Becky Bessinger and senior Sarah Spencer were honored. Ripon sophomore Jessica Davey rounded out the women’s selections. Monmouth sophomore Clay Staley was the conference’s lone representative on the men’s All-Academic squad.

All-Academic Teams - Men - Women

Days after earning All-American honors at the 2007 NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships, Grinnell seniors Sarah Spencer (right) and Allison Louthan (left) were honored on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-American Team ( USTFCCCA).

The NCAA and USTFCCCA honor competitors who finish in the top 35 in the country at the NCAA National meet as All-Americans. Spencer finished sixth and Louthan 32nd at the 2007 National Meet, which was held at St. Olaf’s home course in Northfield, Minnesota on Saturday, November 17.