Pete Barth will retire as head coach for the Lakeland University men's and women's track & field programs later this year, Director of Athletics Dan Artamenko has announced.

Barth will stay on at Lakeland into October, assisting in the transition with the program until then. He also will continue in his role as an assistant coach with the Lakeland women's soccer team this fall.

A national search is underway for a full-time head track & field coach.

Barth has coached the track & field program for the last eight years, in addition to filling numerous other roles in the athletics department. A highlight of his time was the Muskies notching 42 modern era school records as well as 13 podium top-3 finishes at the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference track championships, including two this year with Kolby Cohen (Sr.-Missouri City, Texas) taking second in the men's long jump and Lydia Levra (Fr.-Elk Mound, Wis.) coming in third in the women's 400 meters.

Barth also coached the Lakeland cross country team from 2017-23, rebuilding the program to solid numbers early and also coaching an NACC Freshman of the Year in 2022. He also was head coach of the Muskies women's tennis team from 2020-25 and twice led Lakeland to the NACC Tournament, including its first trip to the tourney in five years in 2023. He also coached the program's first-ever NACC Freshman of the Year in 2022 and in 2023 its first first-team all-NACC performer in 10 years.

"Lakeland has given me the amazing opportunity to work with dozens upon dozens of young men and women in various sports," said Barth. "It's been inspiring to see how hard the best of our young people work to achieve their goals, and I've been blessed to see many of them enjoy success in their athletic endeavors."

"Pete is a Muskie through and through," said Artamenko. "He's filled so many roles in our athletic department, and we appreciate all he has done for Lakeland and all the student-athletes he has impacted. We are thankful for his service."