WESTERVILLE, OHIO—Otterbein University named Dara Ford its new men's and women's head track and field coach, Dawn Stewart, director of athletics, released Tuesday.
 
Ford will replace Dave Lehman, who is retiring at the end of the outdoor season. Lehman has been with Otterbein since 1970, serving as men's head cross country coach (1970-99) and assistant track and field coach (1970-2009) before taking over the men's and women's head track and field coaching duties in 2009.
 
Ford, 30, comes to Otterbein from John Carroll University where she has served as men's and women's head cross country and track and field coach. She has coached the cross country teams since 2008, and track and field teams since 2010.
 
"Dara is a talented coach with an incredible work ethic," Stewart said. "She has proven success in building a championship program and providing her student-athletes with a great experience. I am excited to welcome her into the Otterbein athletics family." 
 
Ford, who will join the Otterbein staff July 1, will also oversee the Otterbein cross country programs.
 
"I consider myself extremely lucky to have the opportunity to take over such 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 women's 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 bachelor's 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 master's degree in biology at John Carroll.
 
"Creating a championship culture at Otterbein is 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 track," Ford said. "I'm very excited to join the Otterbein family."