CBU Announces Hiring of Two Assistants for Cross-Country and Track Program
8/15/2024 11:05:00 AM | Cross Country & Track
RIVERSIDE, CA--- California Baptist University announced the hiring of two new Cross Country and Track Assistant Coaches for Sean Smith's staff this week, with Stephanie Martin and Zak Kirk both joining the program for the 2024-25 season.
Martin and Kirk will join the program after successful coaching stints at Biola and Toledo, respectively. Martin spent the last six seasons with the Biola Eagles of the Golden State Athletic Conference under Head Coach Sean Henning. Martin was a part of multiple conference championships and several program record-breaking performances, in addition to both cross-country programs winning national championships at the NCCAA level in 2018.
I can't wait to be a part of the program. I know CBU has seen rich success in the past, and I look forward to the challenge of helping our program reach new heights in spiritual development, team culture, and racing success. I thank God for this opportunity and the team I get to call family now," remarked Martin.
Kirk will also join the program after one season as an assistant coach at Toledo under Coach Andrea Grove-McDonough. Kirk helped the Rockets win the Mid-American Conference Women's Cross-Country Championship in 2023 and helped coach Dennis Mutai to become the first individual MAC Champion in men's cross-country. Before coaching, Kirk was a successful runner at the University of Portland and Eastern Kentucky. Kirk had personal best times of 3:42 in the 1.5K and 28:43 in the 10K while placing 52nd at the 2021 XC National Championships.
"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this nationally recognized program and university. After my first step on campus, it was instantly apparent why CBU made an instant impact at the DI level. Coach Smith is without a doubt going to continue to elevate the program, and it is a blessing to assist him in creating the vision he has for current and future Lancers," said Kirk.
Head Coach Sean Smith shared his excitement about working with Martin and Kirk and their fit for the program and university.
"We had a ton of quality applicants for these roles, and I am very confident in the overall fits we found for both Zak and Stephanie. They fit the overall mission at CBU and bring great expertise to the sport as athletes and coaches. They have high-value experience in the areas this program needs while also bringing eagerness to buy into the Cross-Country and Track vision that will begin in the Fall. Completing our coaching staff is something I am really excited about, and I am thankful to our administration and the search committee for supporting the program in such a big way."
The 2024 Cross-Country season is set to commence on Saturday, August 31, at the Mark Covert Invite in Brea, California.
