Olson Steps Down as CSUSM Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Cal State San Marcos head men's and women's cross country/track & field coach Torrey Olson has stepped down from his role to pursue other career opportunities outside of athletics, CSUSM Director of Athletics Morod Shah announced on Thursday.
"I am incredibly grateful for Coach Torrey Olson and the imprint he has left on our cross country and track & field programs here at CSUSM," Shah said. "Torrey has enhanced the trajectory of our programs by executing his vision of a one-team approach and support for the success of our student-athletes. This vision has seen tremendous success for our programs, which include an NCAA National Champion. We will miss Torrey and wish him and his family all the best in this next chapter of his career."
Since the start of his tenure in Fall 2018, the men's and women's cross country/track programs saw much success under Olson's leadership, including an NCAA Division II Track & Field Individual Championship, 20 CCAA Individual Championships, six USTFCCCA All-Americans, three College Sports Communicators Academic All-Americans, two USTFCCCA West Region Athletes of the Year, 48 USTFCCCA All-Region honorees and 66 All-CCAA honorees.
"I want to thank everyone – Morod Shah, Jason Stock, my fellow coaches and the student-athletes over the last eight years," Olson said. "My time at CSUSM has given me so many foundational experiences, memories and relationships. I am so deeply appreciative and will continue to root for the Cougars for seasons to come."
Assistant coach Anthony Heredia has been appointed Interim Head Coach of the cross country/track & field programs for the remainder of the 2026 spring season, which began this month. A national search for CSUSM's next head coach will begin at the conclusion of the season.
Latest Men's Track & Field
- CSUSM Sees 103 Student-Athletes Earn D2 ADA Academic Achievement AwardCal State San Marcos Athletics had 103 student-athletes earn the Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award for the 2024-25 academic year.
- Cougars Earn USTFCCCA Team, Individual All-Academic HonorsThe Cal State San Marcos men's and women's track & field teams were each named 2025 NCAA Division II All-Academic Teams by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) while Rasha Badrani, Kalathan Laiwa-McKay and Nick Melanese were named All-Academic Athletes.
- CSUSM Leads Conference with 126 CCAA All-Academic HonoreesThe Cal State San Marcos Department of Athletics saw a conference-leading 126 student-athletes earn CCAA All-Academic honors from the league office on Wednesday.
- Melanese Named CCAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the YearCal State San Marcos' Nick Melanese capped off his outstanding career by being voted the 2024-25 CCAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
- Melanese Earns Second CSC Academic All-America HonorRedshirt senior Nick Melanese of the Cal State San Marcos men's cross country/track & field teams was named to the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America second team.
- Melanese Named NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship RecipientOutgoing senior Nick Melanese of the Cal State San Marcos men's track & field team has been named as one of 42 recipients of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.









