Coach Lisa Klingshirn Resigns After 28 Years

Findlay, Ohio – After 28 years of service to the University of Findlay, Associate Head Track Coach and Cross Country Head Coach Lisa Klingshirn Arce has resigned from her position, effective immediately. 

In her letter of resignation, Klingshirn cited the September 16, 2017 cycling accident of husband and 30-year Findlay track and field Head Coach, Marc Arce, as the primary reason for the timing of her resignation. "I am now the principle caregiver during (Coach Arce's) continued recovery and therefore I am not able to return to my position…in the capacity necessary to successfully fulfill the responsibilities of my job", stated Klingshirn. She continued, "In my 27-plus years at the University of Findlay, I have always put the student-athlete first and strived to provide them with the best possible collegiate athletic experience."

Since Sep. 16, when he was struck by a pickup truck while riding his bike, Head Coach Marc Arce has been recovering. Due to his extended recovery, Coach Arce will also not be returning to his position at the helm of the track and field program.

The two coaches have combined for 58 years of coaching at the University of Findlay. Coach Klingshirn, who was named as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Assistant Coach of the Year for the Great Lakes Region in 2007, has coached runners to school records in 19 of the school's 23 distance events in indoor and outdoor track.

Coach Arce, who was named Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Coach of the Year seven times, has coached his athletes to 29 individual national championships and has seen 177 athletes earn NCAA Division II All-American accolades. He has also coached his athletes to 155 GLIAC championships including 23 GLIAC MVP honors. An additional 12 athletes have earned GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors while 13 have been awarded Regional Athlete of the Year. Arce also led the men's track and field team to its best NCAA DII season, earning national runner-up in both the indoor and outdoor season in the 2014-15 season.

"Marc and Lisa have spent the last 28+ years building a nationally renowned track and field program and have invested an incalculable amount of time to the well-being of our student-athletes", said Director of Athletics, Brandi Laurita. "I commend them for not only their dedication to the track program, our student-athletes, and the university, but for their commitment to each other. We wish for a speedy recovery for Marc and continued strength for Lisa as they embark on a new chapter in their lives."

Current assistant coach Blaine Maag has been named as the interim head coach.