Josh Stryker is in his first season as the Head Coach of the Timberwolves' Men’s and Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country programs.

He replaced Scott Cook, who recently resigned to take over as the head coach of the Davenport Cross Country program.

Stryker is very familiar with Northwood, both as an athlete and as a coach. As an assistant coach for the Timberwolves from 2003-06, Stryker worked primarily with Northwood's sprinters and jumpers.  Northwood set a total of 16 school records during Stryker’s tenure. He was the primary coach for NU All-Americans Josh Weber and James Morley. Stryker also mentored Danielle Miller, who was ranked as high as second nationally in the 200 meters and was selected to compete in three events at the national championships. The Timberwolves qualified for the NCAA-II Championships in 16 different sprint, relay and hurdle events in Stryker’s time as coach. The squad also claimed seven league individual titles in those areas.

Stryker returns to Northwood after spending the past few months as an assistant at Ferris State University for the Cross Country and Indoor Track and Field teams.  He helped the women’s indoor track team to its highest finish in program history at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships (15th - 11 points).  Stryker coached thrower Kamitra Carroll to All-America honors in a pair of events – the weight throw (second) and the shot put (sixth).  

As an athlete at Northwood, Stryker was a part of both the track and cross country programs.  He was a two-time NCAA Division II All-America selection in the 800 meters and the 4x400-meter relay during his collegiate career. He won back-to-back conference championships in the 800 meters and was a member of the school's GLIAC Championship 4x400-meter relay squad.  Stryker also earned GLIAC All-Academic Team honors and served as a team captain.

Stryker is still active in track competitions, running both track and field along with road races for the Front Line Racing Team. He was a member of the team’s distance medley relay team 2005 USA Track and Field (USATF) Indoor National Championships.

Stryker graduated from Northwood with a bachelor's degree in economics/management.  A native of Byron Center, Stryker competed in football, basketball and track during his prep career. The 1998 BCHS graduate attained all-conference, all-area and Grand Rapids Press Second Team laurels as a football player for the Bulldogs in 1997. He also qualified for the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) State Track and Field Championships in 1998.


Rick Williamson
Cross Country/Track and Field Assistant Coach

Rick Williamson is in his first season as assistant cross country/track and field coach. 

Williamson was the men’s head cross country/assistant track and field coach at Akron from 2003-06.  In that time, the men’s team set 11 new school records in track and field and featured the 2005 Men’s Distance Medley Relay Champion in the Mid-American Conference.  Akron also had six All-Ohio Champions in during the Indoor and Outdoor season in 2005.   Prior to his collegiate coaching experience, Williamson spent seven years as the head cross country coach at Aurora High School. 

As a student-athlete at Akron, Williamson was a two-time cross country and track team captain. He set the school record in the 5,000 meters in 1997 and was a six-time member of the Academic All-MAC team.

Williamson holds three degrees from the University of Akron.  He earned a BS in Health Education in 1999, a BA in science education in 2001 and a BA in physical education in 2007.