ADRIAN, Mich. -- Siena Heights men's cross country and track & field coach Tim Bauer announced that he will officially retire at the end of the 2022-23 year. The career of the 2021 NAIA Hall of Fame inductee saw its final competition at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which took place Wednesday through Friday at Indiana Wesleyan. His retirement brings the end of an era which spanned more than 40 years on Siena Heights' campus.
"We are grateful for Tim's contributions to Siena Heights Athletics through all the years," said Siena Heights Director of Athletics Sue Syljebeck. "His legacy will live on through the thousands of student-athletes he coached during his career. Tim Bauer IS Siena Heights Track. When you think of Siena Heights Track, you think of Coach Bauer. The impact he has had on our track program is equal to the impact he has had on our campus community. He will be greatly missed."
Bauer initially made his mark at Siena Heights as a distance runner for the cross country and track & field teams. He was an Indoor Track and Field All-America Honorable Mention in 1980 before graduating in 1982. After spending one year working in the private sector, Bauer returned to the Saints as a graduate assistant coach in 1983 before taking over the running programs as head coach in 1984.
"It was a heck of a run -- the last 40-plus years," Bauer said. "I appreciate what Siena Heights has done for me. Now I'm excited to see what my next adventure will be. Thanks to everyone that helped me. Thanks to all our coaches, our alumni and our current student-athletes -- I thank you. Go Saints!"
Bauer has worked with more than 300 All-Americans, 100 All-American Honorable Mentions and 100 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, including 28 National Champions, three Olympic Trials qualifiers and one American Champion (who was ranked as high as third in the world).
The Saints' running programs have won over 45 championships, including 30 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference titles. In addition, Bauer has had two teams finish in the Top 4, numerous teams finish in the Top 5, and multiple teams finish in the Top 10 at the various NAIA Championships.
"Tim Bauer is probably one of the most impactful coaches in the history of Siena Heights University," said former athletic director Fred Smith. "Nobody has coached more student-athletes or had an impact on student life than Coach Bauer. For all the championships he has produced, both team and individual, he is an even better person. Tim Bauer and Al Sandifer are two gentlemen who helped take our athletic program to a whole new level of success in the late 1970s and early 1980s."
Coach Bauer was named SHU Alumni of the Year during the 1999-2000 academic year. Bauer has also served as the President of the NAIA Track and Field Association and the President of the NAIA Cross Country Association.
