Thomas Bambach enters his seventh year overall as an assistant coach for the Otterbein cross country and track and field programs, and fifth in a full-time capacity. He specializes in guiding the distance runners.
Bambach has most recently helped the men's cross country team qualify for three NCAA Championships in a row, including a pair of top-20 finishes along the way that featured All-American efforts from standouts Chase Hampton (12th) and Cal Yackin (18th).
Also in the time span, Men's XC has won two conference titles and secured three runner-up finishes at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. Bambach has worked with a long/growing list of All-OAC and All-Region performers.
His jump to a full-time staff member in the fall of 2018-19 equaled immediate success for the Cardinals, as BOTH cross country programs won All-Ohio and OAC titles before going on to make appearances at the NCAA Championships in Wisconsin. The women's indoor track and field program then won a second-straight crown as well.
Bambach served as a graduate assistant from 2016-18, earning his master's degree in allied health administration. A native of Allendale, Mich., Bambach received a bachelorâs degree in exercise science from Cornerstone University (Grand Rapids, Mich.) in 2015.
At Cornerstone, he was a 5x national qualifier between track and cross country while also serving as a two-year team captain. He was the schoolâs âGolden Eagleâ award winner as a senior, going to a student-athlete which best exemplifies a combination of academic and athletic success.
