A longtime teacher (31 years) at Avon Lake High School, James "Jim" Saul loved to coach sports. Respected for his knowledge and love of running, he also had a knack for helping his athletes turn potential into achievements.

Saul coached two girls 3,200-meter relay teams, one boys 3,200 team and four individuals to state track and field meet appearances during his 19 seasons as a track coach. Two of those teams and three individuals placed eighth or better at states.

Saul became Avon Lake High School's first boys cross country coach after volunteering for the job in 1966. Three individuals over that time raced all the way to the state finals and ended their seasons with top-12 or better finishes.

The 1993-94 boys cross country team was the first in school history to qualify for a state meet. Saul coached the boys team to a sixth place finish in the state finals the following season.

Saul's own sports career blossomed as a track star at Miami East High School. He qualified for three state meets in the 880-yard run, placing as high as fourth in 1960. He attended Northwestern High School in 1961 where he won a state championship in the 880 before graduation. He spent the next four years at Miami University. He qualified for and competed in the 1978 Boston Marathon.

Away from the running course, Saul served as an Avon Lake Youth Basketball commissioner in the early years of the program. He volunteered for five years as an Avon Lake Soccer Organization commissioner in the early days of that program.