DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis has added Chas Davis to its coaching staff as a new assistant coach for the track & field and cross country programs. A veteran distance mentor with over two decades of collegiate experience and deep West Coast recruiting ties, Davis brings a proven track record of national success and student-athlete development to Davis.
"Together with UC Davis' long proud history of competitive success, ideal college town location, world class academics and a brand to back it all up, I truly feel the student-athlete experience here can compete with any program in the NCAA." Davis said. "Now that this opportunity is a reality, I look forward to getting to work with the student-athletes, coaches and support staff to carry that tradition onward to new heights as we set our sights on some pretty big goals."
Chas arrives in Davis with over two decades of collegiate coaching experience across Division I and Division II, having established a track record of developing All-Americans, conference champions, and national championship-qualifying teams. Most recently, Davis spent five seasons as the associate head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach at Alaska Anchorage, where he developed NCAA All-Americans and helped rebuild the Seawolves' distance corps.
Prior to his time in Alaska, Davis spent seven years on staff at Cal (2013–20), serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. In Berkeley, he spearheaded recruiting efforts that consistently earned top-five national class rankings, while helping guide the program to the largest contingent of NCAA Cross Country national qualifiers in school history. Along with signing nationally ranked distance recruiting classes, Davis developed multiple NCAA All-Americans.
"I'm excited to welcome Chas to UC Davis and to our coaching staff. He brings a tremendous combination of experience and enthusiasm for developing student-athletes and building successful programs," said UC Davis Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Gavin O'Neal. "Chas is a strong leader and mentor who understands the importance of relationships, development, and creating an environment where student-athletes can thrive. His familiarity with the state, its coaches, and the recruiting landscape will be a tremendous asset to what we're building at UC Davis. I'm looking forward to the impact he will have on our student-athletes and the future of UC Davis Track & Field and Cross Country."
Earlier in his coaching career, Davis served as the head cross country and track & field coach at Holy Names University, spent four seasons as the head men's and women's cross country coach at his alma mater, Creighton University, and served as a volunteer assistant at Oregon State.
Davis graduated from Creighton University in 2005 with a bachelor degree in journalism and mass communication, specializing in public relations and news tracks. Professionally certified through both the USTFCCCA and USATF, he holds program management and technical coaching certifications from the USTFCCCA Track & Field Academy.
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:
UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked No. 1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as No. 1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.
For more information, visit
https://ucdavisaggies.com/.
