The University of Northwestern Ohio bowled their first strike on Thursday, March 11, 2010. They secured their first leader of the UNOH Bowling program as Todd Book accepted the position of Head Coach. Book, a current member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour, brings an immense amount of bowling experience to UNOH and will look to build the program to an elite status.

University of Northwestern Ohio President Dr. Jeffrey Jarvis made the first statement about the UNOH Bowling Program on Thursday afternoon, "I am very excited to announce the beginning of our UNOH Racers Bowling Program. Over the course of my two years of due diligence, I have come to respect the people involved in the bowling community because their willingness to help UNOH was unbelievable. With the help of Jack Hammill, Linus Hartings, and Rick Hartings as my advisory committee, along with Chris Adams I have put together what I believe is the best possible coaching staff that any university could have. With Todd, Phil, and Dave on board, and our new relationship with Westgate Bowling Lanes as the official home of the UNOH Racers Bowling Teams; I believe the success of the program is inevitable."

The UNOH Racers will be teaming up with Westgate Lanes on Cable Road in Lima for their home facility for bowling. Co-owner Andy Johnston welcomes UNOH to the Westgate facility, "Westgate Lanes is really excited to help UNOH host their bowling program, and we feel that this is not only great for Westgate and UNOH, but for the community of Lima and the surrounding bowling area." Co-owner Wes Johnston embraces the relationship between UNOH and Westgate as he feels it will only strengthen with the addition of bowling, "Westgate and UNOH are adding to their already established partnership with bowling, and this relationship will present great exposure for bowling in the area." Coach Todd Book is looking forward to the opportunity to work with the athletes at Westgate, "Having Westgate as our home is great for the community, it will not only help our athletes, but also attract the local kids to UNOH and Westgate. The facility is immaculate, has a very friendly staff, and I heard the food was great too! Westgate is the only choice for UNOH."

The UNOH Bowling Coaching Staff will be headlined by PBA Bowler Todd Book, and assisting him will be Phil Austin and Dave Jeanneret. Westgate Co-Owner Andy Johnston stated "UNOH is the premier educational institution in the Lima area, and the UNOH staff has selected the perfect team of coaches to start the program." The coaching staff is also well recognized in the area, as Jack Hammill, member of the UNOH bowling advisory committee, stated "Wow, what can I say? Getting Todd Book is just incredible. The coaching staff is built perfectly. Todd will be great with the kids and has the experience to show them the way. Phil Austin is extremely respected within the community; he will be able to take kids to the next level with hard work. Dave Jeanneret is the glue to the coaching staff. He fills the missing link between Todd and Phil, and is also very knowledgeable about the game. With the right kids, UNOH will be nationally ranked in no time with the pool of talent in the surrounding area."

After accepting the position of Head Coach at UNOH, Todd Book will begin the next step in his bowling career. Coach Book stated, "Being hired is an honor, I am excited for the opportunity to build the first team from scratch, and the support by the staff at UNOH is tremendous. It is going to take a lot of hard work, dedication, and recruiting for the coaching staff to build this program."

Head Coach Todd Book joined the PBA Tour in April 2006. He finished second in voting for the 2007-08 PBA Rookie of the Year. Book has bowled in 43 PBA Tour events. Todd finished first at the PBA Central Region 18th Annual Brunswick Northwest Ohio Open. Book also finished fourth at the 2007-08 Lake County Indiana Classic and fifth in last season's PBA World Championship. Book earned his first PBA Tour exemption in 2007-08 by leading the 2007 PBA Tour Trials.

Before joining the tour, Book started his teaching and coaching career in Pensacola, FL. While in Pensacola, he developed a bowling device for the students, and then used the device himself to set the 6 Game World Record. Book bowled a 1680 breaking the old record by 28 pins.

Book joined the U.S. Navy in 1989. In 1992 he won the All-Navy Bowling Championship. He finished the year the #1 ranked player in the Navy, and #2 for all U.S. Armed Forces. Todd Book relocated to Seattle, WA after the military, and won numerous individual tournaments. In 1996, Book won the Washington State Amateur Bowling Championship.

For Book's career, he owns two World Team Challenge titles and won the 2005 Super Hoinke Classic in Cincinnati, OH. Todd has bowled 102 perfect "300" games along with over forty 800 series in his successful bowling career. Book's career high for the 800 series is 846.

Assisting Todd Book with the UNOH Bowling program will be Phil Austin and Dave Jeanneret. Coach Book feels the Racers coaching staff is a perfect fit, "We have assembled a staff that will be monumental to UNOH and its bowling program."

The UNOH Racers bowling program will waste no time as recruiting is now under way, and the first competitive season will begin in the Fall of 2010. For all interested athletes, please contact Head Coach Todd Book at tbook@unoh.edu. The Racers will have both a men's and women's team and once approved will potentially compete in the American Heartland Conference (AHC). The AHC has teams from across the Midwest ranging from NCAA Division I schools to NAIA institutions. When the Racers join the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference this summer, they will be the 4th school to sponsor bowling as an intercollegiate sport. Head Coach Todd Book will use his professional experience to lead the Racers into their new sport of bowling with a positive feeling, "I have no doubts that UNOH will go all the way in the American Heartland Conference immediately."