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Veteran Calvin University cross country coach taking helm of nationally ranked GRCC team

Aug. 22, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Rob Hyde, who has worked 25 years as a coach in Calvin University’s respected cross country team, will take the helm of the nationally ranked Grand Rapids Community College team. The men's cross country team is looking to get back to nationals for the third straight season. Last season it finished in seventh place with two runners -- Joshua Kipkoech and Coleman Clark -- receiving All-American honors for their top-15 performance.     "I am very excited to get this opportunity to be the head men's coach at GRCC," Hyde said.  "I am looking forward to helping continue to grow this program and work with these amazing athletes to achieve their personal and team goals.  It's my honor to be a Raider now and can't wait to see where we can go together from here!" Hyde ran for Calvin for four years from fall 1993 to spring 1997, and then became a student assistant coach. He stayed at Calvin until fall of 2021, coaching as an assistant to the varsity team and leading the junior varsity program.    Some of Hyde's former athletes would go on to be MIAA All-Conference, All-Regional, Division 3 All-Americans, with one former athlete becoming a national champion in the 10,000 meters in track. During Hyde's 34-year running career, he has been an all-state runner for Godwin Heights High School, a cross country All-American at Calvin University, placed 31st at the Chicago Marathon, and was Michigan Runner's Masters of the Year when he turned 40.  He holds impressive personal records, including a 2:24 marathon, 31:04 10K and 15:06 5K. Hyde has coached middle school, high school, college cross country and worked as a private coach. He currently coaches the Grand Rapid's adult running group, RunGR. Hyde also created his own business, Run With It MI, LLC, where he organizes 14 races a year. Hyde replaces Garrett Lacy who recently landed an assistant coaching position at Northwood University for the cross country and track and field teams.

Christopher Jones

A versatile, engaging percussion artist and musical polymath, Christopher G. Jones brings his unique blend of energy, artistry, and personality to his multifaceted career. Equally comfortable in solo, chamber, and large ensemble settings, he blends various aspects of modern percussion techniques into captivating and unparalleled performances. He is a founding member of the innovative flute and percussion group, A/B Duo, and serves as the Executive Director of the percussion quartet, Clocks In Motion. An advocate for the commissioning and cultivation of new works for percussion, his work with these ensembles have led to over thirty new pieces for percussion, including those from composers Jennifer Bellor, Andrew Rindfleish, Ivan Trevino, Olivia Kieffer, Ken Ueno, Drew Baker and Brendon Randall-Myers.  In addition to his work with A/B Duo and Clocks, he has had the pleasure to collaborate with groups such as Ensemble Dal Niente, Third Coast Percussion, Fonema Consort, and Chamber Cartel. He has appeared in solo and chamber series at the University of Chicago, Virginia Tech, SUNY-Fredonia, University of Illinois,  Skaneateles Festival, Fringe Festival of Rochester, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, and the Goat Farm Arts Center in Atlanta. Having developed his career as a freelancer in various parts of the country, Chris has performed with a number of orchestras including the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Finger Lakes Opera, International Beethoven Project Orchestra, Conway Symphony Orchestra and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. He currently performs as percussion/asst timpani with the Holland Symphony Orchestra. Chris currently serves on faculty at Grand Rapids Community College, teaching applied percussion and music theory, as well as directing the percussion ensemble. He has held positions at Trevecca Nazarene University, Tennessee Technological University, and the University of Central Arkansas. He received his Bachelor of Music from Florida State University and his Master of Music and Doctorate of Music from the Eastman School of Music. His teachers include Michael Burritt, John Parks, James Ross, Bill Cahn, Charles Ross, Rich Thompson, and John Evans.  He currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his lovely wife Monica, and their two dogs, Trooper and Dozer Degrees and Certifications Doctorate of Music - Eastman School of Music Bachelor of Music - Florida State University Master of Music - Eastman School of Music
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