Youngblood Named as 5CTCA Women's Track & Field Assistant Coach of the Year

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Allan Hancock College track & field assistant coach, Steven Youngblood, has been chosen by his peers as the 2024 Assistant Coach of the Year for the women's program after a stellar showing in the spring. The award was announced and presented last week at the annual California Community College Cross Country and Track Coaches Association (5CTCA) convention. 

"To see what Coach Youngblood has been able to accomplish in just a short amount of time here at Hancock is just incredible," shared head coach Kenna Wolter. "This recognition is a true testament to his passion for the sport and his dedication to the success of his athletes. This award is something that he is absolutely deserving of!" 

Youngblood, a distance running specialist, has spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs on the track. This season, the women's program saw a number of stellar performances from the distance core which included an All-American nod after runner-up performance at the 3C2A State Championship by Itandehui Olea in the 10,000-meter race. She also earned First Team All-State honors after taking fourth in both the 1,500-meter and 5,000-meter events while fellow Bulldog, Eva Luu, was a Second Team All-State honoree with an eighth place finish in the 1,500-meter race. The women's program also saw a number of All-Conference nods and one individual champion for the distance group at the Western State Conference finals.

Honorees are in the photo (left to right): Daniel Ozan (Mt. SAC) Assistant Men's XC Coach of the Year (COY); Traycie Kephart (Moorpark) Head Men's T & F COY; Sean Ricketts (SD Mesa) Head Women's XC COY; Demitrius Snaer (Modesto) Head Women's T & F COY; Jim Ratigan (San Bernardino Valley) Head Men's XC COY; Corey Nelson (Santa Rosa) Assistant Men's T & F COY; Steven Youngblood (Allan Hancock) Assistant Women's T & F COY; Mike Wilson (Riverside) Assistant Women's XC COY.