Entering his 16th season as the head coach for men and 8th year as women's coach, Timp is excited for the 2012 cross country campaign. His enthusiasm is rooted in the foundation that was set when the men's and women's programs came together under one banner. "The response and enthusiasm by the athletes has been very positive.
We want to continue to build upon our efforts that we started with quality and quantity, continuing to become more visible within the MIAC and Central Region." The women’s team has been one of the top 3 or 4 teams in the conference the past few years. Graduating a great group a year ago, the women’s team slipped to 6th place last year. “We do have some talented younger runners on board that will have to step up for our team to make a good showing at the MIAC and Central Cross Country meets.”
Mollie Gillberg returns this year after a very good freshman year, where she made All-MIAC Honorable Mention and All-Central Region. Other top returners are Tera Hereid, Katie Anderson, Maggie Noble, Melody Walton, and Rachel Walton. Leadership will be provided by captains Jenna Diercks and Carissa Bodette.
Before coming to Bethel, Timp was the head boys and girls cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Irondale High School in New Brighton, Minnesota, where he coached among others, Victoria Moses to the 1997 Minnesota Class AA 3200m title and Rob Siedenkrantz to a second place finish in the Minnesota Class AA State Cross Country Championships in 1985.
Timp brings more than 30 years of coaching knowledge and experience to the Bethel programs, having coached at all levels from middle and high school to collegiate and post-collegiate athletes. He is a USATF certified coach in the distances, hurdles, jumps, relays, sprints, and throws.
A 1978 physical education graduate of Bethel, Timp was a national competitor in the mile and ranks in the top 20 all-time among Bethel Cross Country runners. Post collegiately he competed most notably for the New Balance Race Team and the Good Times Track Club. In addition to his duties as a full time coach he is also an instructor in the Health and Physical Education Department at Bethel University .
Coach Timp and his wife Tracy reside in Arden Hills, Minn. They have three sons: Matthew and spouse Huong, Daniel and spouse Brooke, and Benjamin and spouse Sarah. Jim and Tracy are also enjoying spending time with their expanding family that now includes 5 grandchildren.
Assitant Coach: Tyler Hinrichs
Tyler Hinrichs is in his third year as an assistant cross country coach. He is a 2009 graduate of Bethel with a degree in Business. During his time at Bethel, Tyler participated in both cross country and track and field and was a captain of the cross country team in the fall of 2008.
Hinrichs currently holds one of the Top 10 Bethel all-time cross country marks for the 8k with a time of 25:42 and also earned All-MIAC in cross country in the fall of 2008. On the track, Hinrichs was an All-American in the 1500m and currently holds the school record in that event. Tyler also has multiple All-MIAC awards on the track including MIAC titles in the indoor mile (2009) and in the 1500m outdoor (2009).
Post-collegiately, Hinrichs has run for the Run N Fun race team out of Saint Paul, MN.
During his time as assistant coach, the Bethel University men’s cross country team has qualified an individual for the NCAA national meet, had five individual All-MIAC performances, and the team has shown performance improvements in the MIAC standings each subsequent year.
Tyler currently resides in Saint Paul, Minn. Hinrichs is engaged to Kayla Jelen (Class of 2011).
Assistant Coach: Laura Zwilling
Laura Zwilling, a 2012 graduate of Bethel University, was a three-time letterwinner for the Royals. In addition to being a three-time letter winner, Zwilling posted a Top 15 time in BU's record book. The 2011-12 team captain was also sensational in the classroom as well, as Zwilling was honored with an Academic All-Conference award.
While in high school Zwilling was a Top 5 finisher in both the 1600- and 3200-meter events at the Minnesota state track and field meet.
