Fritz Spence is in second year coaching the Nittany Lion jumpers and multi-event athletes, after making an immediate impact on the Penn State program in 2007. In his first year in Happy Valley, Spence led sophomore Gayle Hunter to NCAA appearances in the pentathlon indoors and heptathlon outdoors, where she posted an eighth-place finish, earning All-America honors. Under Spence's watch, Hunter, who was named the Mid-Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year indoors, notched numerous career bests in 2007, including a personal-best and school-record score of 5711 in the heptathlon. Hunter would also go on to make a splash at the US Championships, finishing seventh in the heptathlon.

Spence, who came to Penn State from Missouri State University, coached a total of seven NCAA regional qualifiers in 2007, including Clarence Smith and Jay Pagana in the triple jump, and Ryan Kleintop in the long jump. On the women's side, Spence guided Lena Bettis and Hunter to regional marks in both horizontal events. Spence also led his jumps crew to big performances at the Big Ten Championships, including a second-place finish from Hunter, and a bronze-medal effort from Smith in the triple jump indoors. Outside, Spence's athlete notched a total of six scoring performances at the conference meet.

Spence also hit the recruiting trail in his first season with the Nittany Lions, signing an outstanding class of horizontal jumps, including New York star Gabriela Baiter, who won the triple jump crown at the prestigious Nike Outdoor National Championships. Spence also brought in Bianca Fung, another Empire State standout, and transfer Ryan Taylor, an outstanding horizontal jumper and NCAA regional qualifier from Missouri State.

Prior to coming to Penn State, Spence coached 14 conference champions, 26 all-conference performers, 22 regional qualifiers, 10 NCAA qualifiers, and three All-Americans at Missouri State. Spence, who was named NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Mideast Region Assistant Coach of the Year for Jumps/Combined Events in 2006, was a part of a coaching staff that won four Missouri Valley Conference Team Championships in both the indoor (2003 and '04) and outdoor (2002 and '03) seasons, while also finishing three times as the conference runner-up for the team championship (indoor 2002, outdoor 2004 and '06). During his tenure, the Bears also placed third three times at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships (2005 and '06 indoor, 2005 outdoor).

While at Missouri State University, Spence coached athletes to individual success as well as bringing the team to national glory. One of the most acclaimed athletes under Spence's guidance was Tracy Partain, a two-time All-American and five-time Conference champion, earning the 2005 Indoor and Outdoor MVC Championship Awards, 2006 Outdoor MVC Championship Award and was named the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Mideast Regional Athlete of the Year. She was an automatic qualifier for the 2006 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in the heptathlon and finished ninth in the event. Partain is the Missouri State University and conference record holder in the pentathlon (4017) and heptathlon (5829).

A three-time Missouri Valley Conference champion in the triple jump at Missouri State himself, Spence was the conference and school record holder. He earned his degree in 1997 and began coaching for the Bears in 2001. While at Missouri State University, he was involved in recruitment and administrative tasks. In addition, Spence was a mentor and coach to a variety of athletes in all events. He also coordinated strength and conditioning programs for the team.

Spence resides in State College, with his wife Teri, a Seminar Coordinator in the Penn State Physics Department. He has three daughters, Ashli (19), Keiva (12), Aleka (6); and one son, Ashton (17).