POMONA, Calif. – After leading the distance runners to tremendous success through the past four years, Wes Ashford has been named the Acting Head Coach for the Cal Poly Pomona cross country and track and field programs.
 
"We are fortunate that Coach Ashford has agreed to serve as our Acting Head Coach," Director of Athletics Brian Swanson said. "Wes has provided excellent coaching and mentoring to the student-athletes in our cross country and track and field programs during the past four years as our assistant coach. Wes is a consummate professional and his leadership will continue to move our program forward during the upcoming season."
 
After starting his tenure as assistant coach in Fall 2013, Ashford has led the men's cross country program to four-consecutive appearances at the NCAA Division II National Championships.  During that span, he coached three All-Americans: Mark Huizar, Francisco Gomez and Ruben Dominguez.
 
This past year, he guided the women's cross country team to nationals – marking just the third time in history that the program advanced to that stage.
 
"I am grateful to Brian Swanson and Associate Athletic Director Stephanie Duke for the opportunity to serve as the Broncos' Acting Head Coach," Ashford said. "With the hard work and dedication of the student-athletes, our teams are moving in a positive direction. Our goal will be to continue to build on that success, starting with the upcoming track and field season."
 
Ashford has provided plenty of leadership for the Broncos' track and field programs in the past three seasons as well. On the men's side, he has coached nine All-Conference honorees with that group including Huizar's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) title in the 10,000-meter distance in 2015.
 
On the women's side, Ashford has coached five All-CCAA selections. He trained Lizette Huerta this past year and she went on to win the conference's 1,500-meter title.
 
Before joining the Broncos in 2013, Ashford spent 10 years as the head coach of the cross country and distance track and field teams at San Bernardino Valley College. During his time there, he received Foothill Conference Cross Country Coach of the Year honors for 10-straight years from 2003 through 2012. He was also recognized as the California Community College Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2008.

During his tenure at SBVC, he guided the cross country team to five California State Cross Country Community College championships from 2006 through 2010.

He started his coaching career at Rancho Cucamonga High School, where he worked from 1997 to 2001. He guided the team to a Mt. Baldy Cross Country League title and the squad went undefeated in conference competition through his entire tenure.

As a cross country and distance runner, Ashford earned a name for himself during his time as a student-athlete at Brigham Young University. He qualified for 16 separate USA National Track and Cross Country Championships and was a member of the United States National Team for the Eight Nations Meet in 1990 and the World Road Relay Championships in 1996.

After graduating from BYU in 1989, Ashford earned a master's degree in Natural Health at Clayton College of Health in Birmingham, Ala., in 2008.