Entering his 13th season as the head coach for men and fifth as women's coach, Timp is excited for the 2009 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 conference and Central Region." Last season, Bethel came within just three points of winning its first ever conference championship as four runners earned All-MIAC recognition for finishing in the top 15, including Marie Borner, who went on to become Bethel's first women's cross country national champion. Timp earned MIAC Coach of the Year honors for the women's program and is expecting a lot out of both teams, who return nearly everyone on both squads. "We really haven't lost anyone from last year's squad, so I'm excited to see what we can do this year."
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 nearly 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 3 grandchildren.
Assistant Coach: Nick Jones
Nick Jones joins the Bethel University cross country program in the role of assistant coach. Jones is a 2005 graduate of Bethel with a degree in media communication. During his time as a student, Jones competed in the track and cross-country programs serving as team captain both his junior and senior year. In 2004 Jones was voted cross-country MVP.
Jones brings insight from previous coaching experiences as an assistant middle distance track and cross-country coach at Kearney High School in Kearney, Nebraska. The Bearcats have been a perennial state powerhouse having won 13 of the last 16 state Track and Field Championships. As an athlete at Kearney High Jones was part of two state runner-up cross-country teams, one championship cross country team, and four state championship track teams, while Jones himself was a sub two-minute half-miler and a top 15 placer at the state cross-country meet. During the 2007 school year, Jones helped coach both the track and cross-country teams to state runner-up titles.
Nick and his wife Becca live in Blaine, Minn. Becca is a Registered Nurse, while Nick works for Bethel University’s Information Technology department.
