| Paul "Sparky" Adams '41 Legendary BW Track Coach |
Paul "Sparky" Adams graduated from B-W in 1941 after an outstanding career in the classroom and
on the field. He would return to his alma mater in 1951 to begin a storied teaching and coaching
career that culminated by being a Fulbright lecturer in Thailand in 1962, receiving the B-W Alumni
Merit Award in 1977, receiving the Bechberger Award for Human Development in 1979, being elected
to the Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1980 and coaching 24 teams to OAC
Championships. His lore continues today with son, Paul Adams, serving as the Director of Annual
Giving at the College.
Coach Adams coached track at Baldwin Wallace College from 1957 through 1962 and 1966 through
1984. He also coached cross country at Baldwin Wallace from 1956 through 1961 and 1965 through
1983. His teams won ten indoor track, nine outdoor track, and five cross country Ohio Athletic
Conference championships. They also won four NCAA district cross country meets and one All-Ohio
track title. Sparky was president of the NCAA Division III Cross Country Coaches Association and later
the Track Coaches Association.
Coach Adams was the coach of current BW sprint coach Craig Braithwaite, who is a BW Hall of Fame
Member along with several other Sparky Adams coached harriers.
We plan to add more to our legendary coach, "Sparky" Adams. Continue to check back in the future
for updates.
on the field. He would return to his alma mater in 1951 to begin a storied teaching and coaching
career that culminated by being a Fulbright lecturer in Thailand in 1962, receiving the B-W Alumni
Merit Award in 1977, receiving the Bechberger Award for Human Development in 1979, being elected
to the Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1980 and coaching 24 teams to OAC
Championships. His lore continues today with son, Paul Adams, serving as the Director of Annual
Giving at the College.
Coach Adams coached track at Baldwin Wallace College from 1957 through 1962 and 1966 through
1984. He also coached cross country at Baldwin Wallace from 1956 through 1961 and 1965 through
1983. His teams won ten indoor track, nine outdoor track, and five cross country Ohio Athletic
Conference championships. They also won four NCAA district cross country meets and one All-Ohio
track title. Sparky was president of the NCAA Division III Cross Country Coaches Association and later
the Track Coaches Association.
Coach Adams was the coach of current BW sprint coach Craig Braithwaite, who is a BW Hall of Fame
Member along with several other Sparky Adams coached harriers.
We plan to add more to our legendary coach, "Sparky" Adams. Continue to check back in the future
for updates.