Jim Stintzi Position: Head Coach Experience: Four years

Jim Stintzi enters his 20th year as the head coach of the Michigan State men's cross country program and his fourth season as the head coach of the women's cross country team. In addition, Stintzi serves as an assistant coach for the Spartans' track and field programs. He has played a major role in establishing MSU as one of the premier cross country programs in the nation. During his tenure, Stintzi has coached numerous All-Americans and All-Big Ten performers in both cross country and track, including eight All-American and 34 All-Big Ten cross country runners.

A native of Menomonee Falls, Wis., Stintzi has worked to return the Spartan program to prominence at the national level. He coached the 1998 Spartan men to a second-place Big Ten Championship finish and MSU's first-ever Great Lakes Region Championship. Michigan State also advanced to the NCAA Championships for the third time in four years. One year earlier, Stintzi had guided the Spartans to a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships - MSU's best showing since 1970. Stintzi earned NCAA District IV Coach of the Year honors when he coached his team to a third-place finish at the district championships in 1995. Stintzi has earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors twice during his career as the mentor of the men's program. His first honor came in 1987 when the Spartans finished fourth in the conference, a jump of five places from 1986. Stintzi was again recognized for his efforts in 1988 when MSU finished second at the Big Ten Championships, its highest finish since 1971.

In 2001, Coach Stintzi guided the Spartan women to their second Big Ten Championship and their second Great Lakes Regional Championship in 20 years. He also led his team to an 12th-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Championships. Stintzi was named 2001 Big Ten Coach of the Year and 2001 Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year. A total of three women runners were named All-Big Ten in 2002, including two runners receiving first-team honors. "I honestly think awards like this are attributed to the people who do the work - the athletes," said Stintzi upon receiving his award. "It honors their achievements."

Stintzi made his MSU coaching debut in 1984. Before coming to East Lansing, Stintzi was an assistant coach at Northwestern and an assistant at his alma mater, Wisconsin. Stintzi was a seven-time All-American at Wisconsin, claiming six different Big Ten Championships. He was named Big Ten Athlete of the Championships at the 1981 Big Ten Championships. Stintzi later moved on to become a member of four U.S. National track and field/cross country teams. In 1981, he was ranked sixth in the country in the 10,000 meters.

The 45-year old Stintzi earned a bachelor's degree from Wisconsin in 1981. He is currently serving as the President of the United States Cross Country Coaches Association. Stintzi and his wife, Gail, reside in Okemos and have three children: Katie (21), David (18) and Daniel (15).