After eight years leading Ripon College's exceptional track & field programs, Director Bob Wood has announced June 30, 2025, will be his final day.

Since taking the helm in 2018, Wood has overseen one of the most successful eras in program history, guiding the Red Hawks to 12 Midwest Conference team championships, including an unprecedented sweep of both men's and women's indoor and outdoor titles in 2023 and 2024. Under his leadership, the program produced 33 NCAA National Qualifiers, 15 All-Americans, and set 104 school records, including 10 this year alone.

"My experience at Ripon has been more than I could have hoped for. It was a dream scenario coming back here to coach the program that I had such a great experience as a student-athlete. The most special thing about Ripon continues to be the people and the connections you make, then getting to lead the team into a new era with the Willmore Center was more than I could have imagined as a coach.   

I feel grateful to Julie Johnson for the chance to be a first-time college head coach, and thankful to all of the assistant coaches and student-athletes that have dedicated a lot to building the program over the years.  I will closely follow the program going forward, both as an alumni, a fan, and with the relationships that have been built.  As I move to the next phase I know these relationships will last a lifetime and I will always be a Red Hawk.

There is a ton of positive momentum continuing to build around the program with the current coaching staff, facilities, returning athletes, and a large group of incoming athletes makes for a really exciting future," said Bob Wood.

"Bob ran a first-class program and leaves Ripon College as one of the most decorated coaches in the history of the Midwest Conference," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Chris Schumacher. "His impact goes far beyond championships and All-Americans as he built a culture of excellence, accountability, and belief. He will be greatly missed."

Wood's teams also earned national respect, achieving top-15 NCAA DIII rankings and producing multiple USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams and Individuals. The 2022 season marked a turning point for the program, as both men's and women's teams won their first-ever MWC Indoor titles, with the men also claiming their first Outdoor title in nearly a century.

Ripon College will begin a national search for the next head coach of its track & field programs in the coming weeks.