“Where’s that?” Bauer recalls asking.
The chance to be near his former
coach brought Tim to Siena where he
became an Honorable Mention AllAmerican in the mile and a 1982
graduate with a degree in education.
When Palmer left Siena Heights (he
has since returned), Bauer took over
Pat’s responsibilities as men’s head
track and cross-country coach and, a
few years later, women’s track coach.
It’s what Bauer has done as a coach
that earned him the alumni
recognition. Take away the 71 AllAmericans, 65 Honorable Mention
All-Americans and five individual National
Champions he’s coached and you can still
see why he is being honored.
Tim Bauer ‘82 celebrated his Outstanding Alumni Award
with his parents, his brother, and many current and
former Siena runners.
Outstanding Alumni Award
Tim Bauer
This article by Mike Decker ‘00 originally
appeared in Spectra and has been excerpted by
permission.
As Tim Bauer prepared for his 17th year as
track and cross-country coach for Siena
Heights, he had little idea that he would be
honored with the Alumni Association’s
Outstanding Alumni Award.
“ I didn’t realize how much this meant,” he
said. “I’m only the second male to get the
Outstanding Alumni and the last one was a
preacher. I don’t know what that says.”
While Bauer is not a preacher, he certainly
is a Saint.
During his high school senior year in North
Robinson, Ohio—after finishing third in
the state in cross country as a junior—Bauer
suffered an injury that cost him a running
scholarship. After graduating in 1976, he
started work in a factory, but it didn’t last
long. “I missed running and competition,”
he said.
Bauer ran at Findlay College for two years
under Pat Palmer, now on the graduate
faculty at Siena, before he decided to go to
Division 1 Bowling Green. That lasted three
days. Then Palmer called to tell his former
athlete he was going to teach and coach at
Siena Heights in Adrian, Michigan.
part of their life, you’ve done something
special.”
St. Dominic Award
Joan Delaplane, OP
Joan Delaplane, OP is a woman of many
firsts. The 1956 graduate of Siena Heights
was the first woman to receive a Master of
Divinity degree from Sts. Cyril and
Methodius Seminary. And that was just
the beginning.
She was the first woman member of the
Academy of Homiletics (the art of
preaching). She went on to become
president of that organization, the first
woman, first Catholic and first Dominican
to hold that position.
“I’ve worked with Tim for 16 years,” head
women’s cross-country coach Don Kleinow
said. “He cares a great deal about his
athletes. He wants them to not only run but
also get a good education and succeed in
life.”
Today, she is professor of homiletics and
director of the Doctor of Ministry Program
in Preaching at Aquinas Institute in St.
Louis. A widely published author, she
teaches, preaches and conducts workshops
for both Catholic and Protestant preachers.
“He’s contributed enthusiasm, energy, and
hard work to the athletic department,”
psychology professor Whit Hames pointed
out. “He may come off as a roughneck but
he is truly kind and considerate,” and stays
in touch with athletes’ parents and
grandparents.
At Siena’s alumni awards ceremony March
22, she received the Alumni Association’s
St. Dominic Award, named for the founder
of the Dominican order and given in
recognition of commitment to Christian
education.
continued on next page
“I’ve always been stubborn and bull-headed
but I pride myself in doing everything
Joan Delaplane, OP ’56, St. Dominic Award winner,
on my own,” Bauer said. That attitude shared the occasion with her brother Allen and sister
can be attributed partly to Bauer’s Marjorie, OP ’49.
father, a farmer who gave Tim what he
needed but made his two sons work
hard for what they wanted.
As he looks to the future, Bauer
envisions bringing a national
championship to Siena Heights. He
knows it will take a lot of hard work,
but hard work is nothing new to this
coach.
Bauer’s philosophy is, whatever you
do, do it the best you can, “because if
you can affect somebody, in just some