California State University, Chico Men's Cross Country

Smith has been a member of Gary Townes Chico State cross country coaching staff. In his first two seasons, he has helped guide the Wildcats mens and womens squads to a combined four California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) XC titles and a pair of West Region crowns, with both teams finishing the 2015 campaign in the national top 10 Division II rankings.   An Illinois native, Smith immediately transitioned into coaching after starring in both cross country and track & field at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. Smith won back-to-back All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors in both sports while helping lead the Flyers to the 2014 GLVC Indoor Track & Field Championship. He also excelled in the classroom, earning two United States Track & Field and Cross Country Association All-Academic awards and was named to the National Honors Society and the 2014 CoSIDA/Capital One Aademic All-District Mens Track & Field/Cross Country Team.   Smith began his college career at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. He was the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Cross Country Freshman of the Year in 2009, then was named the CCAC Runner of the Year the following year, helping the Fighting Saints win their first-ever conference cross country title. On the track, Smith earned All-America honors in both the 5,000-meter run and the 4x800-meter relay.   A standout runner at Winnebago High School in Winnebago, Ill., Smith notched state championships in cross country and the 3,200-meter run while leading the Indians to the 2007 Illinois state team title.   Smith received his bachelors degree in mathematics from Lewis University in 2014.

Towne is in his 21st season as Chico State mens and womens cross country head coach, as well as serving as the distance coach for the Wildcats track & field teams. His success spanning three decades speaks for itself Towne has developed one of the top mens and womens cross country programs in the United States, coaching 224 All-Conference runners, 156 All-Region runners and 56 All-Americans.   All told, 30 of Townes Chico State cross country teams have finished in the top 10 nationally (14 of his womens teams and 16 mens teams) and boast 22 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference titles. Towne himself has been named Cross Country Coach of the Year 20 times by the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and West Region Coach of the Year 16 times by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).   Towne has also been a huge asset to the fortunes of the Chico State mens and womens track teams, coaching 86 All-America distance runners over the past 20 years, including national champions Scott Bauhs (10k in 2007, 5k in 2008), Charlie Serrano (5k, 2007) and Sarah Montez (3k, 2008). Towne has helped the Wildcats win 21 CCAA team track & field championships and finish in the national top 10 five times. He has received four USTFCCCA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year awards (2008, 2009, 2013 and 2015), and was named National Assistant Track & Field Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2009.   The 2015 season was another successful one for both the mens and womens cross country programs. Under Townes tutelage, the Wildcats men won its 14th straight CCAA championship to set a new conference record for consecutive titles in any sport. Though the Cats finished second in the NCAA West Regional, the men finished the season ranked sixth in the nation on the strength of All-America performances by Will Reyes, Steven Martinez and Kyle Medina. Reyes, Martinez, Aaron Mora and Steven Velarde earned All-CCAA and All-West Region honors, while Nick Valenzuela and Arturo Arevalo were named All-CCAA. Reyes captured the conferences Runner and Newcomer of the Year awards, with Towne collecting CCAA Mens Cross Country Coach of the Year accolades for the eighth straight time.   The Chico State women brought home its eighth consecutive CCAA cross country crown in 2015 and 12th in the last 14 years. The Wildcats followed up with the programs first NCAA West Regional championship since 2012 and parlayed a sensational showing at the NCAA Championships to finish the year ranked fourth in the nation, tying the programs highest ever national finish). Sadie Gastelum grabbed All-CCAA, All-West Region and All-America honors; McCall Habermehl finished first in the CCAA Championship to earn CCAA Runner of the Year honors to her All-West Region accolades. Quetta Peinada also earned All-CCAA and All-West Region honors, with Lora James an All-CCAA recipient. Towne received the CCAA Womens Cross Country Coach of the Year award for the seventh time in the last eight years.   Towne took over Chico States cross country program in the fall of 1996, and in 97 the womens squad qualified for its first trip to the NCAA Championships. Before the mens teams No. 6 ranking in 1999, only one Wildcat cross country squad had qualified for national competition in the previous 30 years. Both mens and womens teams have gone on to qualify for the NCAA Championships every year since 99.   While getting the most out of his athletes on the track and on the trails, Towne stresses academic success and is proud of the fact that nearly 100 percent of his student-athletes have graduated from college and moved on to become successful in the working world. Another aspect of the Chico State cross country program Towne is particularly proud of is the family atmosphere of the team.   Once a part of the Wildcat family, youre a part forever, he says.   Its not uncommon to see dozens of Wildcat alumni make trips across the country to cheer on the current teams in competition.   Being a distance runner himself, Towne continues to compete while coaching and has logged impressive 2:29 marathon and 1:09 half marathon PRs. Towne finished second in his age group at the California International Marathon in December, 2005, and finished 15th overall in the masters 8k competition Feb. 13, 2010 during the USA Track and Field (USATF) Cross Country Championships in Spokane, Wash. It marked Townes third top-25 finish in masters competition.   Towne received his bachelors degree in physical education from Chico State in 1991. He earned a masters in physical education from Chico State in 1996.   Towne is married to Roxanne, a probation officer for Butte County.