2008 Coaches

Coach Janey Arnold will be entering her fourth season at the helm of the men’s and women’s cross country and track teams. She is beginning her second year as an assistant professor in the health, physical education and recreation department at Bluffton after serving as the associate director of athletics.

In the Beavers’ third season under coach Arnold, the men finished seventh and the women sixth at the HCAC cross country championships. In the spring, the men finished seventh and the women seventh at the conference track championships.The Beavers will look to push forward and build on their success for the upcoming cross country campaign.

Arnold attended the University of Massachusetts where she received her undergraduate degree in sport management in 1995. She completed her master’s of science in physical education from Ohio University in 1997. Arnold was the head assistant track and field coach at Ohio University in 2004.

Arnold was the head coach at Ohio Wesleyan University from 1999 to 2002, leading the Battling Bishops to nine school records and producing five NCAA Division III All-Americans, including a national runner-up in the 800 meters in 2001 and a national long jump champion in 2002.

Arnold holds a USA Track and Field level one coaching certification with a level two certification in the jumps. She is also certified as a sports strength and conditioning specialist by the International Sports Science Association.

As an athlete at Massachusetts, Meeks set the school record in the triple jump (40-6) and posted top-five performances in the long jump (19-2) and high jump (5-8). She was also a two-year captain for the Minutewoman. 

Arnold resides in Upper Sandusky with her husband, Ed, who is an assistant with both the track and field and cross country programs.

Ed Arnold will be entering his fourth year as assistant cross country and track and field coach at Bluffton. Arnold graduated from Malone College in 1991 with a degree in chemistry and physics education. He has been coaching for the past 14 years; most recently he finished an eleven-year stay at Upper Sandusky High School where he coached cross country and track. 

A four-year member of both the cross country and track and field teams at Malone, Arnold was a conference champion in the 800 meter run. During his high school years, he participated in cross country and track and field, earning All-Ohio status in track. 

Tom Smith, a graduate of Wittenberg University, is in his second season as a graduate assistant with the cross country and track and field programs at Bluffton University. As a Tiger, Smith earned his bachelor of arts degree in communication, participated in four years of track & field and was involved with several clubs on campus.

Smith is an assistant coach for both the cross country and track & field programs at Bluffton University and he is currently pursuing his master’s degree.

Travis Lepley is currently in his fifth season as the throws coach for the Bluffton track team. He has a level one certification from USA Track & Field. Lepley returned as a coach after spending four years as a member of the Bluffton track and field program as well as four-year player on the football team.

A 2003 graduate of Bluffton University, majoring in mathematics with an integrated math license, Lepley served as the Student Senate President for the 2002-2003 school year. Lepley was selected as a tri-captain of the 2003 track team, was a member of the 2000 HCAC championship football team and was named honorable mention All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2001 and 2002 as a center on the offensive line.

Lepley is currently teaching mathematics at Lima Perry High School where he serves as an assistant coach for the Perry varsity football team. He resides in Lima with his wife, Kelly, who is the assistant volleyball coach for Bluffton.