Tim Barnes enters his 12th season on the Spartan men’s and women’s cross country coaching staff in 2012. Barnes, a former Division II track and cross country standout at Slippery Rock University (Pa.), has a multitude of coaching experiences in the Greater Cleveland area.

Barnes began his coaching career as the head track & field coach at Padua Franciscan High School in 1990. He then led men’s cross country and track & field at Cuyahoga Community College from 1992-2001. During his tenure at Tri-C, Barnes produced several individual and team national qualifiers, with a sixth-place national team finish in 1997-98.

During the 2001-02 year, Barnes joined the cross country staff at Case Western Reserve with Head Coach Kathy Lanese. He added the title of assistant track & field coach to his resume in 2006-07. During that same year, he started a track & field program for both boys and girls at Lutheran East High School and served in that position until his retirement in 2010-11. During his time LEHS, Barnes produced state qualifiers all four years including the state runner-up in both the boys’ 110-meter hurdles and long jump. When not in competition, Barnes taught physical education, health, art and life skills from 1990-2011 at various K-8 schools in the Cleveland area.

When he’s not coaching student-athletes, Barnes utilizes his competitive spirit in numerous ways. He is currently ranked fourth in the United States in the steeplechase for the 50-54 age range. During the USA Track & Field national meet in late July 2011, he finished with a silver medal at The George Finnie Stadium in Berea. He was also a member of the shuttle hurdle quartet that produced the second-fastest time in history in the 50 and over age range with a time of 1:20.26.

Barnes has also served as the meet director for the North Royalton Bear Run 5K (held in November) for the last 10 years. In addition, he is the founder and president of the Banana Running Club, based in North Royalton since 2003.

A four-year student-athlete at Slippery Rock, Barnes was a Division II national qualifier in cross country for The Rock during his senior year. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Therapeutic Recreation and Special Education from SRU in 1984.

Barnes and his wife Pam, who is a federal park ranger in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park System, have been married for 28 years. The couple has a biological boy and girl along with an adopted a boy and girl and two grandchildren.