Fresno State Athletics
Drake tabbed as Fresno State’s head track and field/cross country coach
8/21/2019 1:06:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Veteran distance coach takes over Bulldog program after nearly a decade at Washington.
FRESNO, Calif. – With more than 20 years of experience at the Division I level within the Pac-12 and Big 12 conferences, Jason Drake has been named Fresno State's head track and field and cross country coach, Director of Athletics Terry Tumey announced on Wednesday.
"I am proud to welcome Coach Drake to the Valley," said Tumey. "He brings a wealth of experience from the top tiers of Division I track and field and I trust his leadership will spark our student-athletes' to achieve excellence in competition and in the classroom. I cannot wait for him to get started."
Drake renters the college coaching ranks after a year away while mentoring post-collegiate distance runners and managing meets throughout the West Coast. The native of Gillette, Wyoming has spent the last decade in Seattle where he was Washington's associate head cross country and track and field coach. During his nine seasons, the Huskies' men and women combined to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships 13 times with the women twice earning top-three finishes. On the track, 29 distance runners earned All-America honors. During Drake's tenure, three Huskies claimed Pac-12 cross country individual titles while distance runners combined to win eight Pac-12 track titles. During his final months on staff, Drake was asked to guide the program through the 2018 NCAA Preliminary Round and Outdoor Championships as its interim head coach.
"I am excited for the opportunity to lead the Fresno State track and field and cross country programs," Drake said. "I want to thank Terry Tumey for sharing his vision for the future of the department and asking me to be part of it. In addition, I want to thank Matt Studwell, Meredith Jenkins, and the search committee for giving me this opportunity. The Fresno State community made evident how special this university is; that enthusiasm is contagious, and I'm thrilled and eager to be part of Bulldog Nation."
In addition to his duties as a coach and recruiter at UW, Drake managed Washington's home meets at Dempsey Indoor which brought thousands of athletes to Seattle each season. He also handled the program's camps, alumni relations and fundraising efforts which helped lead to the construction of Husky Track which hosted the 2016 Pac-12 Track & Field Championships.
Prior to his time in Seattle, Drake served as the head cross country coach and an assistant track and field coach at Washington State. In seven seasons he coached two individual Pac-12 champions on the track and three athletes to All-America honors.
Drake came to Pullman after seven seasons at his alma mater, Colorado. As an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, he helped play a key role in bringing a pair of national championships to Boulder, first with the women's cross country team in 2000 and then with the men in 2001 after a runner-up finish the previous year. On the track he coached three athletes to top-five national finishes.
Drake holds of Bachelor of Science in environmental conservation from Colorado where he was an All-American on CU's indoor distance medley relay team and a multi-year Academic All-Big Eight honoree.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
"I am proud to welcome Coach Drake to the Valley," said Tumey. "He brings a wealth of experience from the top tiers of Division I track and field and I trust his leadership will spark our student-athletes' to achieve excellence in competition and in the classroom. I cannot wait for him to get started."
Drake renters the college coaching ranks after a year away while mentoring post-collegiate distance runners and managing meets throughout the West Coast. The native of Gillette, Wyoming has spent the last decade in Seattle where he was Washington's associate head cross country and track and field coach. During his nine seasons, the Huskies' men and women combined to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships 13 times with the women twice earning top-three finishes. On the track, 29 distance runners earned All-America honors. During Drake's tenure, three Huskies claimed Pac-12 cross country individual titles while distance runners combined to win eight Pac-12 track titles. During his final months on staff, Drake was asked to guide the program through the 2018 NCAA Preliminary Round and Outdoor Championships as its interim head coach.
"I am excited for the opportunity to lead the Fresno State track and field and cross country programs," Drake said. "I want to thank Terry Tumey for sharing his vision for the future of the department and asking me to be part of it. In addition, I want to thank Matt Studwell, Meredith Jenkins, and the search committee for giving me this opportunity. The Fresno State community made evident how special this university is; that enthusiasm is contagious, and I'm thrilled and eager to be part of Bulldog Nation."
In addition to his duties as a coach and recruiter at UW, Drake managed Washington's home meets at Dempsey Indoor which brought thousands of athletes to Seattle each season. He also handled the program's camps, alumni relations and fundraising efforts which helped lead to the construction of Husky Track which hosted the 2016 Pac-12 Track & Field Championships.
Prior to his time in Seattle, Drake served as the head cross country coach and an assistant track and field coach at Washington State. In seven seasons he coached two individual Pac-12 champions on the track and three athletes to All-America honors.
Drake came to Pullman after seven seasons at his alma mater, Colorado. As an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, he helped play a key role in bringing a pair of national championships to Boulder, first with the women's cross country team in 2000 and then with the men in 2001 after a runner-up finish the previous year. On the track he coached three athletes to top-five national finishes.
Drake holds of Bachelor of Science in environmental conservation from Colorado where he was an All-American on CU's indoor distance medley relay team and a multi-year Academic All-Big Eight honoree.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please call 559-278-7160.
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