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From: Tony Sandoval <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 19:37:58 -0700
Subject: Huffins Resigns as Cal Track and Field Director
Huffins Resigns as Cal Track and Field Director
Former Bears decathlete leaves after 5 seasons
May 29, 2007
BERKELEY - Chris Huffins <http://calbears.cstv.com/sports/c-otrack/mtt/huffins_chris00.html> has resigned his post as California director of track and field effective after the upcoming NCAA Championships, California athletic director Sandy Barbour announced today. Huffins is in his fifth year at the helm of the Golden Bears program.
Huffins, a former NCAA champion for Cal and Olympic bronze medalist for the United States in the decathlon, began coaching at Cal in 2003. Eleven of his athletes automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships at the recent NCAA West Regional, which ran May 25-26 in Eugene, Ore., and five more qualified as at-large entrants.
The NCAA Championships are scheduled for June 6-9 in Sacramento.
"We thank Chris Huffins <http://calbears.cstv.com/sports/c-otrack/mtt/huffins_chris00.html> for his efforts on behalf of Cal track and field," Barbour said. "The Bears have made significant strides during his five years in Berkeley. This year in particular they have produced some excellent results, including Alysia Johnson's <http://calbears.cstv.com/sports/c-otrack/mtt/johnson_alysia00.html> NCAA championship in the 800 and David Torrence's <http://calbears.cstv.com/sports/c-otrack/mtt/torrence_david00.html> school record in the mile. We will miss Chris and wish him well in his future endeavors."
As an athlete, Huffins scored a school-record 8,007 points to win his NCAA decathlon title in 1993. That record still stands. He also won the Pac-10 decathlon title in 1993. He is ranked No. 2 in the long jump on Cal's all-time list with a mark of 26-3.50 set in 1993. In addition, he was honored with the Pac-10 Medal that same year.
In 1991, Huffins won the Pac-10 triple jump title with a mark of 52-11.50, which ranks him seventh all time at Cal.
He won his bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"I am grateful to Cal for giving me the opportunity to be the director of track and field and cross country," Huffins said. "I am a Golden Bear, and the opportunity to coach your alma mater is unbelievable. The Cal spirit is strong, and I am sure that the Bears will do as a great a job after my tenure as they did during. A part of me will always bleed blue and gold."