Challenge - Spring/Summer 2012 - Tiffin University

coaching first base. Prior to that
he spent the 2009 season as the
Catching Coach at Wake Forest
University. Prior to his hiring at
Wake Forest, Wilkins spent more
than a year working at the Floridabased
IMG Academies where he
worked under former Cleveland
Indians bench coach Ken Bolek as
Joe Wilkins
the full-time catching instructor.
He also has coaching experience
with the Delaware Cows and the Stark County Terriers of the
Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.
Wilkins played professionally for three years, spending
time in the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks’
farm systems. He led the Northwest League’s Yakima Bears in
hitting in 2002.
A four-year letterwinner at Ohio State, Wilkins was
named second team All-Big Ten during the 2002 season and
also earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the 2002 Big
Ten Tournament after hitting a walkoff home run vs. Indiana.
The Buckeyes won two Big Ten regular season championships
and advanced to three NCAA Tournaments, including a
Super Regional appearance in 1999, during Wilkins’ collegiate
career.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Wilkins graduated from
Ohio State in 2005 with a degree in human ecology and a
specialization in consumer affairs. He earned his master of
business administration in 2007 from Tiffin University. Wilkins
was a two-sport student-athlete at Dublin Scioto High
School, where he was an all-state selection in both baseball
and football.
“Our immediate goal is to get back to the GLIAC
tournament,” said Wilkins. “Just getting a taste of that this
spring gives us motivation for next year. We also want to start
making a mark in the region, trying to take the program to
the next level. We also look to get even more involved with
the community.”
“I am confident the program will be in good hands
under Joe’s direction,” said Allen. “He is ready to take the
program to a new level.”
Written by Shane O’Donnell, Director of Sports Information
Olympic Academic Experience
Twenty-one students and scholars from across 13 states
will board planes and trains for the transcontinental trip
to London as part of the 2012 Tiffin University Olympic
Academic Experience.
While at the 2012 Games, the TU contingency will
participate as official volunteers for two of the Olympic
Reunion Centers and will engage in a special program
with Olympians and underprivileged children from one
of the poorest boroughs in London. Two-time Olympic
sprinter Francis Dove-Edwin of Sierra Leone (Africa) who
resides in London is the catalyst to create special opportunities
for participants of the TU Olympic Academic
Experience.
The group connected via a Facebook page, which
includes members of the TU contingency who traveled
to China and Greece for their Olympic excursion.
Graduate student, Beth Clark, is making her second
trip, proving that the allure of the Olympics and success
of the TU program are valuable experiences. The
general advice from former participants is to be open
to random, unexpected opportunities that make the TU
Olympic Academic Experience an adventure like none
other.
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SPRING / SUMMER 2012 | CHALLENGE | 65