The Conference Coaching Carrousel...Continues

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John Carroll University has accepted the resignation of Mark McClure as its head coach of cross country and track & field, and has promoted two assistant coaches from within to handle those positions for the 2008-2009 school year.

Dara Ford, who spent last season as the program’s graduate assistant, will serve as the interim head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country teams this fall. Elmore Banton, the former head coach of Ohio University who has spent the last five years as an assistant under McClure at John Carroll, will assume the role of interim head coach of the school’s men’s and women’s track & field teams.

McClure stepped down from his post at John Carroll to accept the same position at his alma mater, Malone College.

Laurie Massa, the Director of Athletics and Recreation at John Carroll, cited timing, available talent and the need for continuity for retaining the services of Ford and Banton in new capacities.

“When you lose a cross country and track & field coach this late in the summer, you essentially have three seasons worth of positions to fill in a limited amount of time,” said Massa. “Mark McClure maintained a successful and well-respected program here at John Carroll. It is important that, for all the efforts that went into putting this team together, we kept as much continuity as possible. We have qualified people already on staff, and that made the decision to hire from within an easy one.”

Both Ford and Banton will serve as the top assistant coach for the program in which they are not the head coach this season.

Ford will begin her fourth year as a college coach, but taking over the reigns of the Blue Streaks’ cross country program will be the first head coaching job. Prior to her arrival at John Carroll, she was the assistant cross country and track coach at her alma mater, Mount Union, for two years.

A 2005 graduate of Mount Union College, she received a Bachelor's of Science in Biology. As a Purple Raider, she set four school records -- the indoor 3,000-meter run, and the outdoor 3,000-meter steeplechase, the 5,000-meter run and as a member of the distance medley relay.

A five-time national qualifier (three in cross country, two in track for the steeplechase), Ford received multiple Academic All-OAC accolades and was a two time Academic All-American. She was also honored with the Clyde Lamb Award.

Ford is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Biology at John Carroll.

Now in his sixth season at John Carroll, “Mo” Banton brings instant credibility to the Blue Streak programs as the mentor of the track & field programs and the assistant coach for the cross country teams.

Banton was the highly successful head coach of the cross country and track & field programs at Ohio University for 23 years. During his tenure, he collected 20 Coach of the Year awards, including nine Mid-American Conference and eight All-Ohio. Banton guided the Bobcats to 10 MAC titles, 14 All-Ohio championships, and six Central Collegiate crowns over the course of his 23 seasons at the helm.

When hired in 1980, Banton was the first African-American head coach of any intercollegiate sport at Ohio.

As a competitor for Ohio University, Banton made history when he captured the NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country championship in 1964. Not only was he the second Ohio student-athlete to earn national medalist honors, but he was also the first African-American to win the national title.

“We are excited that coach Banton and coach Ford have agreed to take on bigger roles within these programs.” said Massa. “Both have provided exceptional leadership for our student athletes and I am certain they will continue to do so.”