In his fourth season as head women's cross country coach, Eric Putnam led Shawnee State to their 2nd most successful season in the women's program's 12 year history. The women finished 3rd at the AMC championship and also sent three individuals to the NAIA National Championship. The women's team was ranked as high as 23rd in the NAIA cross country poll this season.

In his third season as head women's cross country coach, Eric Putnam lead Shawnee State to their most successful season as the Bears qualified to the NAIA National Championship as a team for the first time. The team finished 13th place out of the 32 team field. Lisa Davies placed 17th to earn All-American honors for the second straight year. Star Emmert placed 27th to earn All-American honors for the second time. In addition to the success on the field, the women's team also had four academic All-Americans. 

In his first two seasons as coach at Shawnee State, the women's team has placed 5th in the AMC in 2006, 4th in 2007 and a program high, third place this past season.

Prior to joining Shawnee State, Putnam was the head Cross Country coach at Chillicothe high school for two seasons. Putnam led Chillicothe to a district championship in 2003 and a district runner-up finish in 2004.  Two Chillicothe runners qualified for the state championship meet in 2003.

Putnam served as assistant cross country and track coach at Xavier University from 2001 – 2003.  Both men and women’s cross country team enjoyed their most successful seasons during his tenure. 

Putnam also enjoyed a very successful collegiate running career at Ohio University.  From 1991 – 1996 he ran cross country and track and field, earning seven varsity letters.  He earned All-Mid American Conference honors seven times.  He was the individual MAC champion in the 1500 meter run in 1996 running 3:48.  He was co-MVP of the Ohio University track team in 1996 and was voted team captain three times.

Putnam established many accomplishments through his high school career at Chillicothe High School.  He was a four-time state individual qualifier in Division I, including a state runner-up finisher in 1989.  He was also a three-time state qualifier in track and field, including 4th inn the 1600 meter run and 5th in the 3200 meter relay in 1991. 

Putnam has been winning road races at various distances all over Ohio for more than a decade.  He was the Run Ohio Grand Prix Champion in 2005-2007 and the 2006 Huntington Half Marathon Champion with a time of 1:09:04. Putnam has also won the Shawnee State Bear run a record 10 times.

Putnam now reside in Portsmouth with his wife, Krista and sons Charles and Ian.

Aimee has finished two full marathons; the Rock'n'Roll in San Diego and the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, Ohio, as well as the Flying Pig Half Marathon in Cincinnati in 2008 in a time of 1:58:40.

Aimee resides in Portsmouth with her 13 year old son Trenton.

Blake Jones has spent nine years with the Shawnee State University cross country program. He spent four as an athlete and this will be his fifth now as the men's assistant coach. As an athlete, Jones best season was in 2004 when he was 19th place in the AMC/Region IX-X championship meet where the Bears finished 2nd place. Blake also ran his best time of his collegiate career at the 2004 NAIA national championship where the Bears finished 18th in the 28 team field.

As the men's assistant coach, Jones has seen the team develop into a consistently ranked cross country program in the NAIA. Jones has also continued to be a competitive runner, winning dozens of road races all over the region. This past fall, in his first Marathon in Columbus, Jones ran 2:39:15 and finished 16th place overall. That time was good enough to qualify for the prestigious Boston Marathon. Blake is currently a member of the Columbus Running Company.

Jones graduated from Shawnee State with a bachelors degree in Sports Management.

In July of this year, Lovins accepted the position of Executive Director of the Portsmouth Area Arts Council and works closely with the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts to bring a season of performing arts to the school children in the region.  Lovins and her husband Jason live outside of McDermott with their two children.