After the sudden death of former Baker head cross country and track and field coach Zach Kindler, the university has announced that assistant coach Tim Byers has been appointed to the same position on an interim basis.

Kindler hired Byers in July to be a full-time assistant coach in both cross country and track and field.

“It was an honor when I was offered the interim position for this year,” Byers said.

Byers has 19 years of coaching experience at multiple collegiate levels, including all three divisions of the NCAA as well as the NAIA. He has also served as the head track and field coach at Simpson College and Ottawa University.

Over Byers’ 19 years of coaching, he has been a part of 19 conference championships and coached 87 NAIA/NCAA national qualifiers and 19 NAIA/NCAA All-Americans.

Throughout Byers’ and Kindler’s coaching careers their paths crossed one another’s on several occasions with both coaches working at the NAIA level.

“Zach was a legacy and a legend,” Byers said. “I can never replace a Zach Kindler, and I don’t plan on trying to do that, I can just be the best coach I can be.”

Byers plans on being more than just a coach, but a part of the “Baker family”.

“I want to help the Baker family and the Baker cross country and track and field family to continue their winning ways,” Byers said.