Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Famer Bill Ware completed his 24th year at the helm of the Ithaca women’s cross country team in 2011. He coached the team from 1982-91, then returned to the team in 1998. In his 24 seasons as the women’s head coach he has led the team to nationals 18 times, including consecutive appearances from 1984-91 and 2000-09.
In 2000, Ware received state coach of the year honors, and in 2001 he received state and region coach of the year accolades. In 2003 he was named state coach of the year. Ware has been named Empire 8 Coach of the Year for nine consecutive years (2003-2011). Ware was awarded the 2010 NYSCTC Lifetime Service Award from the New York State Collegiate Track Conference.
A former assistant professor in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance, Ware has led the women’s cross country team to five top-four performances at the NCAA championships, including a second-place finish in 1986. Ware has guided 13 different athletes to 20 cross country all-American honors at Ithaca.
Ware’s other coaching responsibilities at Ithaca have included a 16-year stint as men’s varsity swimming coach, nine seasons as the men’s cross country coach, one season as women’s swimming coach and men’s lacrosse coaching duties from 1967-77. He currently assists with both the men's and women's track & field teams, also.
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