
Ed Beathea Era Begins in Bloomington
7/1/2023 9:00:00 AM | Track and Field
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Ed Beathea, as previously announced in May of 2022, has officially begun his tenure as the Director of the Indiana Track and Field and Cross Country programs, effective Saturday, July 1st.
Beathea, who spent 19 seasons as an assistant and associate coach for the Hoosiers, will continue coaching the sprints, hurdles and relays while overseeing the entirety of the program.
He takes over for Ron Helmer, head coach for 16 seasons, who announced his retirement from coaching following the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign.
"Thank you to Athletic Director Scott Dolson and his staff for giving me this tremendous opportunity to serve Indiana University and our Track and Field/Cross Country programs," Beathea said. "My family and I are honored and appreciative. I look forward to growing the tradition of excellence established by those before me."
Beathea has had an incredible impact on IU's sprinters across two tenures with the program. From 1996-2006, he coached 32 Big Ten Champions, 28 All-Americans and two NCAA runners-up. The Hoosiers became the first relay team to win four-consecutive Big Ten titles (women's 4x100) after winning in each season from 2000-2003.
Upon returning to Bloomington in 2014, Beathea coached Rikkoi Brathwaite to back-to-back Big Ten indoor titles in the 60 meters (2021-22) and a national runner-up finish (2022). He was named USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022.
Of currently contested championship events, Beathea's sprinters own 14 of the program's records. Antonio Laidler became the most recent athlete to break a school record, running 10.19 at the NCAA East Prelims in 2023 to better IU's record in the 100 meters.
His full staff for the 2023-24 campaign will be announced at a later date.
Coaching Journey
After a successful college career as a sprinter at Ball State, Beathea immediately began his coaching career.
2023-Present: Indiana, Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
2014-2023: Indiana, Associate Track and Field Coach – Sprints, Hurdles, Relays
2012-14: Ohio State, Head Track and Field Coach
2006-12: Ohio State, Assistant Track and Field Coach – Sprints, Hurdles, Relays
1996-2006: Indiana, Assistant Track and Field Coach – Sprints, Hurdles, Relays
1993-1995: Northern Arizona, Assistant Track and Field Coach – Sprints, Horizontal Jumps, XC
Beathea, who spent 19 seasons as an assistant and associate coach for the Hoosiers, will continue coaching the sprints, hurdles and relays while overseeing the entirety of the program.
He takes over for Ron Helmer, head coach for 16 seasons, who announced his retirement from coaching following the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign.
"Thank you to Athletic Director Scott Dolson and his staff for giving me this tremendous opportunity to serve Indiana University and our Track and Field/Cross Country programs," Beathea said. "My family and I are honored and appreciative. I look forward to growing the tradition of excellence established by those before me."
Beathea has had an incredible impact on IU's sprinters across two tenures with the program. From 1996-2006, he coached 32 Big Ten Champions, 28 All-Americans and two NCAA runners-up. The Hoosiers became the first relay team to win four-consecutive Big Ten titles (women's 4x100) after winning in each season from 2000-2003.
Upon returning to Bloomington in 2014, Beathea coached Rikkoi Brathwaite to back-to-back Big Ten indoor titles in the 60 meters (2021-22) and a national runner-up finish (2022). He was named USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022.
Of currently contested championship events, Beathea's sprinters own 14 of the program's records. Antonio Laidler became the most recent athlete to break a school record, running 10.19 at the NCAA East Prelims in 2023 to better IU's record in the 100 meters.
His full staff for the 2023-24 campaign will be announced at a later date.
Coaching Journey
After a successful college career as a sprinter at Ball State, Beathea immediately began his coaching career.
2023-Present: Indiana, Director of Track and Field and Cross Country
2014-2023: Indiana, Associate Track and Field Coach – Sprints, Hurdles, Relays
2012-14: Ohio State, Head Track and Field Coach
2006-12: Ohio State, Assistant Track and Field Coach – Sprints, Hurdles, Relays
1996-2006: Indiana, Assistant Track and Field Coach – Sprints, Hurdles, Relays
1993-1995: Northern Arizona, Assistant Track and Field Coach – Sprints, Horizontal Jumps, XC
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