GRANVILLE, OH - Denison has named Dara Ford its new director of track & field and cross country. Ford arrives at the Big Red following 12 seasons at the helm of Otterbein's track & field and cross country programs, a role she has held since 2014.
 
"It's an exciting day for Big Red Track & Field and Cross Country," said Denison's associate V.P., director of athletics Matt Tanney. "Dara is an experienced coach with a proven record of developing individual student-athletes and building championship teams."
 
Across her 12 years at Otterbein, Ford collected a combined eight Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) cross country championships between the women's and men's sides. Four women's cross country titles and three men's cross country titles came with the Cardinals, and her eighth OAC cross country crown was earned guiding the John Carroll women's program during the Blue Streaks' time in the OAC.
 
She also owns two women's indoor track & field OAC championships, eight OAC Coach of the Year honors, and four OAC Coach of the Year selections. Over the course of her career, Ford has tutored 51 All-Americans and 106 NCAA qualifiers.
 
"Dara brings a contagious enthusiasm for the sport, and coupled with her ambition and understanding of the recruiting landscape, will lead the program to new heights," Tanney added.
 
Before her time at Otterbein, Ford spent six years at John Carroll University, then a member of the OAC. Her combined stops as a Blue Streak and Cardinal produced 188 OAC individual champions.
 
While at John Carroll, Ford was instrumental in growing the women's cross country roster, which expanded from six athletes in 2007 to 25 by 2013, the same year the team captured the OAC title.
 
"It's clear that Denison is a really special place that highly values their student athletes and their experience," Ford said. "The clear standard of excellence and overall success of the athletic teams at Denison is inspiring."
 
A Canton, OH, native, Ford earned her bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in adolescent-to-young adult education from the University of Mount Union in 2005. She was a three-time Academic All-American and a five-time national qualifier in cross country and the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and she still holds Mount Union records in the indoor 3,000-meter run, the steeplechase, and the outdoor 5,000-meter run.
 
This past fall, Mount Union recognized Ford's accomplishments as Otterbein's director of cross country and track & field with its Duke Barret Award of Excellence. The honor is presented to a member of the M Club whose career experiences or activities have brought distinction to the recipient and, in turn, to Mount Union.
 
"I'm honored and excited to be the next director to lead the program to success, not just on the conference level, but also on the national stage," Ford said.