Oberlin, Ohio - Oberlin College Associate Vice President for Athletics Advancement and Delta Lodge Director of Athletics & Physical Education Natalie Winkelfoos announced after the 2024 outdoor track and field season that Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Ray Appenheimer will transition into a new role as the associate director of athletics for internal operations. 

Additionally, longtime assistant coaches Izzy Alexander and Ben Wach will receive promotions with Alexander taking over as the head coach for men's and women's cross country, while Wach will become the head coach for the men's and women's track and field programs. 

"Ray's decision to transition from coaching is significant," Winkelfoos said. "He is one of the greatest to ever lead our cross country and track & field programs. His influence reaches far beyond the realm of trophies and championships, impacting the lives of all who have crossed paths with him. As he joins our administrative team, his impact will continue — mirroring the success he's brought to our teams. And with the talents and intelligence of Coach Alexander and Coach Wach, the tradition of winning and learning remains secure under their leadership."

In 20 seasons at the helm of the cross country and track & field programs, Appenheimer has been a 19-time NCAC Coach of the Year, leading his teams to 19 total team championships. Additionally, he has mentored 227 conference champions, over 100 USTFCCCA All-Academic selections, and over 100 all-region performers. Appenheimer coached three NCAA individual champions and produced 37 All-Americans in his career. 

"I am truly grateful for everything I've learned over the last 20 years, from colleagues, coaches, and especially the students I have been lucky enough to have coached," Appenheimer said. The winning has been great, but it pales in comparison to the relationships and the growth I've seen in this program, this department, and especially myself. I love Oberlin athletics, and I am passionate about the opportunity to support all of our students and coaches." 

In 10 seasons with the program, Alexander has helped orchestrate a dominant distance program at the conference, regional, and national levels. With Alexander on staff, the women's cross country team claimed conference titles in 2014, 2018, and 2019, and earned berths to the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2014 (7th-place finish), 2018 (28th-place finish), and 2019 (11th-place finish).

Most recently, she helped lead the men's cross country team to its first North Coast Athletic Conference championship in 2022, mentoring sophomore Walter Moak to all-region accolades and a berth in the NCAA Championship meet.

"I am thrilled for Ray and the entire athletics department as a whole," Alexander noted. "I have been incredibly fortunate to have worked closely with Ray for 10 years and now there will be more people within this department and at the College who will have similar opportunities to learn and grow under his leadership, energy, and drive. Ray created something special within these programs. It is shown in the championships, records, and awards, but also within the alumni who still keep in touch, the continued relationships among former teammates, and the community he has cultivated."

Alexander went on to add, "I am honored and grateful to Natalie and Ray for this opportunity to lead the cross country program and to be able to continue to build upon the foundation Ray has created to grow our success while creating a positive experience for the student-athletes. I am also looking forward to coaching alongside Ben as he assumes the head track & field position, as he is someone whose leadership, polymathic knowledge, and passion I deeply respect."

A technical wizard, Wach's impact on the track and field teams' success over his six seasons on staff has been immense. In his first season, six sprint/hurdle school records fell, including the men's and women's 60-meter hurdles, men's 60-meter dash, men's 4x200 relay as well as the men's heptathlon and decathlon.

The 23-24 indoor season saw Hayden Hill earn all-conference honors in the three events, including the conference title and all-region designation in the pentathlon, while Kambi Obioha was named NCAC Sprinter of the Year. The men's 4x200 and 4x400 relays both broke school records, with the 4x400 setting a new NCAC meet record to cap off the season. 

"I'm grateful to Ray for hiring me six years ago, and to him and Natalie for trusting me to continue the growth of this program," Wach said. "I'm thrilled that our whole athletic department will be able to benefit from the kind of mentorship and guidance that has benefited me so much. Lastly, I'm fortunate to be taking on this new role alongside Izzy, whose impact on the track & field and cross country programs is frankly immeasurable—coaching with her is a gift and a treat."

Wach went on to elaborate about the institution he has called home since 2018. 

"Oberlin is a special place and an important one in the history of higher education in this country. I am excited to lead and be led by a team that believes in Oberlin's tradition of success through inclusion, authenticity, and intentional change. We're going to run, jump, and throw well, and we're going to do all of that as part of the process of the members of this team becoming the people they want to be." 

"I feel so lucky to be able to turn the cross country and track and field teams over to Izzy and Ben, two coaches who have both already rewritten the record books here and will continue to be amazing mentors for our students," Appenheimer added. 

Jillian Roberts will remain on staff as an assistant coach for the track and field program, instructing throwers, as will Ray Harris, who serves in a part-time role working with the teams' jumpers. Additionally, the program will hire two new full-time assistant coaches. 

Appenheimer will coach his final NCAC Championship meet on May 3-4 on the campus of Denison University.