Josh Payne, Head Track & Field Coach
Josh Payne is in his eighth season guiding Hanover's cross country and track & field programs.

During his tenure in cross country, he has produced 36 all-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference runners, nine all-region honorees and guided the women's team to three HCAC championships. In addition, his athletes have been named NCAA Division III academic all-Americans 30 times. He is a four-time recipient of the Heartland Conference coach-of-the-year honor and has produced two NCAA qualifiers.

In track & field, Payne has led 16 athletes to all-conference status, eight athletes to national-qualiying marks and two HCAC most valuable athletes. In 2005, Hanover produced its first NCAA all-American, when then-junior Leah Peelman (Cincinnati, OH) finished fourth in the 10,000-meters at the NCAA Championships. Hanover athletes have also set school records in 12 events and notched two HCAC records.

Prior to coming to Hanover, Payne was an assistant at Anderson University, his alma mater. While at Anderson, Payne assisted in coaching multiple all-conference performers and national qualifiers in both cross country and track and field.

As a collegiate student, he was a two-time all-American and a four-time all-conference selection in cross country before graduating with a degree in biology.

In 1996, he earned his master's degree in physical education at Eastern Illinois University, where he assisted with the cross country and track & field programs.

Payne, the 1990 Ohio High School Division III state champion in the 1,600-meter and 800-meter runs, resides in Hanover, with his wife, Kelli, a Hanover graduate. The couple has three children, including a son, Collin (8), and twin daughters, Mallory and Michaela (2).