Dr. Rick Wilson, originally from Coshocton, Ohio, has achieved numerous accomplishments as both a competitive runner and a coach. Rick earned All-Ohio honors in high school and ran cross country and track for Malone University in Ohio. In his collegiate career, he excelled in the distance events achieving several All-Conference and All-District accolades in addition to his highly esteemed All-American honors in both track and cross country. After graduation, Dr. Wilson began coaching and continued to experience success, producing accomplished athletes at both the high school and collegiate levels and earning several “Coach of the Year” honors. Dr. Wilson holds Level I and II USA Track & Field coaching certification, specializing in endurance running. He also was involved in the Level III coaching certification clinic when it was first offered in 1995.
In the collegiate scene, Dr. Wilson led his teams from Judson College in Illinois to three conference championship titles and one national championship berth, and produced athletes who amassed nine All-American honors. He also coached the boys’ cross country team from Salem High School, in Salem, Ohio, to two back-to-back state championships. Alongside his wife, Dr. Mary Wilson coaching the girls’ team, both the boys’ and girls’ teams took the top honors in 2005. In track, Dr. Rick Wilson produced seven All-State Athletes, including champions in both the 800 and 1600 meters. He and the Salem High School state champion teams are being inducted into the high school athletic hall of fame this fall.
Coaching Accomplishments:
Collegiate Level
- 1994 Team National Qualifiers
- 1993, 1994, 1995 Conference Champions
- Four Academic All-American Athletes
- Nine All-American Athletes
- Fifteen All-District Athletes
- Twenty-one All-Conference Athletes
- 1993, 1994 Conference Coach of the Year
- 1994 District Coach of the Year
High School Level
- 2007 Boys 800m Outdoor Track State Champion
- 2007 Boys Outdoor Track State Runner-Up Team
- 2007 Boys 800m Indoor Track State Champion
- 2007 Boys 1600m Indoor Track State Runner-Up
- 2006 Indoor Track State Champion 800 & 1600
- 2005 & 2006 Girls Division II State Cross Country Champions
- 2004 & 2005 Boys Division II State Cross Country Champions
- 2005 State Cross Country Coach of the Year (all divisions)
- 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Cross Country Conference Champions
- Eight All-State Cross Country Athletes
- Two All-State Indoor Track Athletes
- Five All-State Outdoor Track Athletes
As a runner himself, Dr. Wilson continues to run and has, as recently as 2006, finished 6th in the country, masters’ division, at the Cross Country Club Nationals and was named the top masters runner in Ohio. Dr. Wilson has a passion for developing an ever-increasing understanding of training methodology and periodization, and he is a true coach in every sense of the word. He derives great pleasure from sharing both his knowledge and passion for the sport and is an enthusiastic teacher and motivator. He is excited about working with his wife, Dr. Mary Wilson, to cultivate a culture of distance running and a true sense of a Christ-centered team as they strive to develop the potential in each Emmanuel College runner!
Dr. Wilson, his wife, and their children Amani and Samara, live and run in Lavonia, GA.
