Wyoming, MI - Grace Christian University is thrilled to announce the hiring of three-time national champion distance runner and multi-time All-American, Kimberly (Buskirk) Proctor as the new Associate Head Coach of the track & field program. Proctor will be serving alongside current Grace Head Coach, Gerry Verwey, and Assistant Coach, Jake Rodgers, and will assume responsibilities for the distance events, pole vault, as well as having an active role in recruiting.
Coach Verwey will focus his work with the sprints, hurdles, and jumps, while Coach Rodgers will continue his work with throwers.
Proctor's athletic career at Grace is legendary. After placing 7th and 2nd overall at the NCCAA DII Cross Country National Championships during her first two seasons at Grace, she went on to win back-to-back national championships in 2018 and 2019. She also holds the school record in both the 5k and 6k distances for cross country and received the Ray Bullock Award in 2018, the NCCAA's highest honor for a student-athlete in cross country.
On the track, Proctor won a national championship in the 5k, was runner up in the 10k, and earned All-American honors in both events, as well as the indoor 800m. She also holds 11 different individual school records between indoor and outdoor track at Grace and was a part of 4 different school record breaking relay teams.
After graduating from Grace, Proctor has continued her running prowess training with elite teams in the Grand Rapids area. She has recorded personal best times of 1:21 in the half marathon, 36:51 in the 10k, and has worked her 5k time down to a 17:31. She is currently training for the Detroit Free Press Marathon on October 16. Additionally, for the past two years, she has been helping coach the track and cross country teams at The Potter's House High School in Wyoming, MI.
Having earned her B.S. in Human Services and M.A. in Organizational Leadership as a student at Grace Christian University, Proctor's most important work is as a mental health case manager in Kent County working with those who suffer from mental illness and chronic homelessness. As if that wasn't impressive enough, she is also working towards her Master's of Social Work degree through the University of Michigan.
Coach Proctor currently resides in Rockford, MI with her husband, Ted, and dog, Ellie.
Coach Verwey is excited to work with Proctor. "Kim's work ethic and passion is second to none and it was an honor to be her coach when she was a student-athlete here at Grace. I am so excited to work alongside her because of our shared vision for the future of our track & field and cross country programs and I trust her completely to help get us there," commented Coach Verwey. "Her reputation in the running community in West Michigan speaks for itself and she has had amazing track & field mentors in her life. We are instantly a stronger program with Kim on board."
The track and field teams, currently in the conditioning phase of their training, will kick off competition in early December for the indoor half of their season. Stay tuned to the Grace Tigers website and social media for updates on the upcoming season.
