California State University, Chico Women's Track

Nooney is in his fourth year as head coach of the Chico State womens track & field team, and the former Wildcat All-American has successfully continued the schools impressive run as one of the top programs in the country. While managing all facets of the program, Nooney also coaches the horizontal jumps and oversees strength and conditioning for the Cat sprinters and jumpers.   Taking over the reins from Oliver Hanf, who now focuses his head coaching efforts solely on the mens program, Nooney has led the Chico State womens track & field team to three straight California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) championships and three consecutive Top 35 rankings in the national team polls. In his brief tenure, Nooney has already mentored 11 All-America athletes, with his program racking up 54 All-CCAA and 41 All-West Region honors. For his efforts, Nooney has been named CCAA womens track & field Coach of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2016.   The 2016 season saw Nooney and the Wildcats streak to the CCAA womens track & field championship for the seventh year in a row, and on the strength of five All-America efforts at the NCAA Championships, finished the season ranked No. 19 among all Division II programs nationwide.   Brooke Whitburn was named the 2016 CCAA Female Track & Field Athlete of the Year and came within 36 points of capturing the national championship on the way to a second place All-America finish and a school record (5,393 points) in the heptathlon. Olivia Watt earned two All-America honors for the second straight year in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs, while Wildcat teammates Karlie Garcia (10,000-meter run) and McCall Habermehl (3,000-meter steeplechase) also picked All-America accolades.   Nooney and the Wildcats streaked to the CCAA womens track & field championship in 2015 and finished 23rd in the final U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) rankings. Watt was named the conferences co-Athlete of the Year, with Alex Burkhart selected as the CCAA Freshman of the Year. Watt, Burkhart, Lauren Schnelli and Taylor Sack delivered All-America performances to finish an extremely successful season. Bailey Henshaw (2:07.67 in the 800-meter run) and the 4x400 relay team of Henshaw, Watt, Aja Erskine and Marina Berrios (3:47.05) set new school records in their respective events.   Nooney began his Chico State coaching career in impressive fashion, leading the Wildcats to the 2014 CCAA womens track & field title while ranking 33rd nationwide.  Chico State sent seven athletes to the NCAA Track & Field Championships, producing two All-Americans (Kasey Barnett in the long jump and Ayla Granados in the 5,000) and breaking four school records.   Nooney was officially named head coach of the Chico State womens track & field team on Sept. 18, 2013, returning to the campus that saw him earn a CCAA championship and All-America honors in the decathlon in 2008. He also won a conference title and All-State honors as a decathlete competing at Santa Barbara City College from 2004-06.   Before heading back to Chico, Nooney spent the 2012-13 season as the interim head mens and womens track & field coach at Colorado School of Mines. Nooney led the Orediggers to one of the best indoor and outdoor campaigns in school history his indoor mens squad was ranked as high as 10th nationally and the women 27th, with five of his athletes earning All-America honors.   During the 2013 outdoor season, nine of Nooneys athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships and 20 were Academic All-Conference selections.   Nooney served as an assistant coach at Colorado School of Mines in 2011-12, and began his coaching career with a three-year stint as an assistant at Division II track & field power Central Missouri.   A native of Lompoc, California, Nooney possesses a USATF Level 1 Coaching Certificate. He earned a Bachelors degree in Exercise Science from Chico State in 2008 and went on to complete a masters degree in Biomechanics at Central Missouri.   Nooney, his wife Kelli and baby daughter Reese reside in Chico.

Without question, Gary Towne is Chico State cross country. In his tenure since 1996, Towne's athletes have combined for more than 170 All-America honors, over 100 All-West Region selections, more than 300 All-CCAA performances, and 4 NCAA individual national championships in cross country and distance track events. His programs are recognized as among the most consistently elite in all of Division II athletics. One of the most successful coaches in Chico State Athletics history, Towne began his tenure as head coach of the men's and women's cross country programs in 1996, and since then, both teams have made themselves contenders for conference, regional and national titles every season. Towne also guides the distance runners on the track. Cross Country Excellence Towne's men's teams have captured 22 consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) titles (2002–2024), 19 NCAA West Region titles, and made 25 straight NCAA Championship appearances, posting 11 top-five national finishes, including third-place efforts in 2008 and 2019. Over 180 Wildcats have earned All-CCAA honors under his guidance, and 48 men have achieved All-America status. The Chico State women's cross country program has been equally successful, winning 19 CCAA championships since 2002 and qualifying for 26 NCAA Championships (24 straight from 2000–2024). The Wildcats have produced 23 NCAA All-Americans and more than 124 All-CCAA honorees during Towne's tenure. Track & Field Distance Legacy In track & field, Towne has coached over 100 All-Americans in distance events (800m to 10,000m and steeplechase) and multiple NCAA national champions, including Scott Bauhs (10,000m, 2007; 5,000m, 2008), Charlie Serrano (5,000m, 2007), and Sarah Montez (3,000m, 2008). His distance runners have helped Chico State capture 25 CCAA team titles and achieve eight national top-10 finishes. Individual Honors Towne's coaching excellence has been recognized extensively: 34-time CCAA Cross Country Coach of the Year (Men's and Women's combined) 24-time USTFCCCA West Region Coach of the Year 6-time USTFCCCA West Region Track & Field Assistant Coach of the Year 2-time USTFCCCA National Assistant Track & Field Coach of the Year (2008, 2009) In 2024, he was once again honored as both the CCAA Men's and Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year. Personal Background A proud Chico State alumnus, Towne earned his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1991 and his master's degree in 1996. He and his wife Roxanne, a probation officer for Butte County, reside in Chico.