Since joining Ů��AV in January 2012, Stansbury’s leadership has helped the Athletics Association enjoy significant academic, athletic and community service success. During his UCF tenure, the Knights moved from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference and played in the university’s first major bowl game, a 52-42 victory over No. 6 Baylor in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2014.

Under Stansbury, the Knights have won 15 conference championships, including seven in 2014-15.

“This decision was difficult because I love UCF, what our teams have accomplished and the excitement still ahead,” Stansbury said. “Karen and I have spent a large part of our lives at Oregon State and we look forward to returning to Corvallis. Without a doubt, we will be Knights fans from the West Coast.”

UCF also boasts the highest graduation success rate for student-athletes of any public NCAA Division I FBS school in the nation. UCF’s 95 percent Graduation Success Rate ranks in the top five overall among FBS schools, alongside private institutions Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke and Northwestern. The Knights Academic Progress Rate (APR) has improved every year under Stansbury’s leadership. The current score of 981 (out of 1000) is the best in UCF history.

“Oregon State hired a winner in every sense of the word,” UCF President John C. Hitt said. “Todd fostered a culture of academic and athletic success at UCF. He has done a marvelous job and the UCF family appreciates all he and Karen have done for the Knights. He will be missed.”

UCF will share plans regarding the search process and interim period soon.

UCF Athletics received the largest charitable gift in its history in 2014 when the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust gave $4 million to build the Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership. The Garvy Family Foundation contributed $1 million to the center.

The new center will be the centerpiece of UCF’s vision to mold its student-athletes into community leaders who are prepared to make a difference in the world.

Stansbury also has overseen facilities expansion at UCF. This fall, the East Side Club will open in Bright House Networks Stadium. The “ESC” will be a 10,000-square-foot, Florida-themed social area and lounge located between the 30-yard lines inside the stadium. It will feature chair-back stadium seating, as well as an open-air sun deck to enjoy games.

More information about UCF Athletics, including schedules, tickets, official gear and more can be found at .

Four of the five partners in the firm are UCF alumni, including Christina Pinto, ’86; Lisa-Moreno Haramboure, ’89; Tony Moreno Jr., ’91, who also serves on the UCF Foundation Board of Directors; and Rob Clark, ’94. The firm’s other partner, Scott Peelen, graduated from Michigan State, but he was easily adopted as a member of their UCF family, especially since his daughter, Sarah, is a current UCF student, and he attends all of the football games.

The breakfast took place at the Alfond Inn in Winter Park, with many prominent community figures in attendance — including members of the UCF Board of Trustees, UCF Foundation Board of Directors and UCF Alumni Association Board of Directors, as well as Orange County commissioners, current and former mayors, and one of the forefathers of UCF, Charlie Gray.

Knightro and some of the UCF Cheerleaders kicked off the morning with a cheer, followed by opening remarks from Peelen. WESH 2 Sports Anchor Pat Clarke hosted the remainder of the event, reminiscing about when UCF’s football program first started, and how he used to be able to park his Mustang under the Citrus Bowl stands. He commended then-Coach Gene McDowell on taking the program from Division II to Division I-AA, as well as current Head Coach George O’Leary on his “culture of winning” and “culture of learning.” He concluded with a video showcasing this season’s UCF Football’s key players before introducing Todd Stansbury, UCF’s athletic director, who stepped in to speak for O’Leary, who had to cancel his appearance due to a minor medical issue.

“When George meets with recruits,” Stansbury said, “he only guarantees them one thing — that they’ll graduate. He demands excellence, and that’s what he gets.”

In fact, ��AV is No. 3 in the nation for graduating 90 percent of its football players, and is No. 1 in the nation for graduating 95 percent of all its student-athletes combined.

“A lot of people think we’re in the entertainment business,” Stansbury continued. “We’re really in the education business. Our mission is to provide opportunity to young people and develop future leaders. Our job is to use sport to prepare them to compete.”

While there were plenty of laughs, including an anecdote from Clarke about Peelen’s former reporting skills, the morning was really about supporting UCF’s athletes and their academic endeavors. Moreno, Peelen, Pinto & Clark pledged to match gifts up to the first $10,000 raised.

“One of the things we’ve noticed is the quality of the students graduating from UCF,” Moreno Jr. says. “In fact, we just hired another UCF alumnus through the internship program. We’re very proud of the high ranking UCF maintains for graduating athletes.”

Want to help make the academic support center a reality? Contact Chris Huff, associate athletics director of development and executive director of the Golden Knights Club, at CHuff@athletics.ucf.edu or 407.823.2205.

 “We are very grateful to the Williams family for this generous gift,” said UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury. “Thanks to their commitment, our current and future student-athletes will be able to utilize all the benefits the Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership will provide for years to come.”

 “On behalf of my family and in support of the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust, I felt there was a need to ensure this project became a reality,” Williams said. “The leadership at UCF, Todd Stansbury and Rick Walsh shared with me how important it is not only to have competitive sports facilities, but also how critical it is to make a big investment in the academic, personal and professional development of UCF student-athletes,” he said. “Under Dr. Hitt’s leadership, UCF has grown significantly. Our family is proud to make this investment.”

 The Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership will serve as the headquarters for personal, professional and academic development of nearly 500 Knights student-athletes. The project cost is estimated at $6 million for the three-story, 22,000-square-foot structure. The Center will house UCF’s Academic Services for Student-Athletes, Student Services and Compliance departments. The building will include a multi-purpose classroom with space for up to 200 students, a computer lab, tutoring and mentoring rooms, study space and conference and resource rooms. It will be located just east of and adjacent to Bright House Networks Stadium.

 Construction is set to begin in January, with the project slated for completion in fall 2015.

Based on data released by the NCAA Tuesday, UCF has a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 95 percent. That mark ties the Knights with Boston College for fifth-best in NCAA Division I (FBS), trailing only private institutions Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke and Northwestern. UCF’s GSR is 11 points above the national average and is also a school record.

“I’m incredibly proud of our Everyday Champion student-athletes, our coaches and the culture of academic excellence they’ve created here at UCF,” UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury said. “This is obviously the result of a lot of hard work and a great support system. When you look at the institutions around us in the rankings, that’s a great neighborhood to live in.”

Thirteen of UCF’s 14 programs (women’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field are combined as one by the NCAA) are above the national average. Seven Knights programs – men’s golf, men’s tennis, rowing, women’s golf, women’s soccer, women’s tennis and volleyball – had perfect scores of 100 percent.

Nine UCF squads – football, men’s soccer and the seven mentioned above – were ranked No. 1 in the . The Knights football program ranks No. 10 in the nation and owns the third-best GSR among all FBS public institutions in the nation. Twelve of UCF’s 14 programs came in at 90 percent or better.

“The level of achievement our student-athletes have been able to accomplish academically is truly extraordinary,” said Kimya Massey, UCF Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services. “We are competing at the highest level nationally, both on the field and in the classroom. These latest NCAA metrics bear out that reality. Our student-athletes are graduating at an extremely high rate and also developing skills necessary for success in life, which is always the most important goal. We are extremely proud of this milestone. Kudos to the ASSA staff members, who work extremely hard to assist our student-athletes in their endeavors.”

Within the State of Florida, Ů��AV is tops among all NCAA Division I institutions. Florida State ranks second at 84 percent, while Florida and USF are both at 83 percent. In the American Athletic Conference, UCF’s overall rate is also the top mark.

“This is just another example of the evolution and power of the UCF Athletics program and our move to national prominence, not just in competition but in the classroom as well,” Stansbury said. “We believe that graduation is not the end, but the beginning for our Everyday Champions. Our program will be defined by the success of our graduates.”

The GSR data in this report includes student-athletes who first enrolled in 2007. The NCAA Graduation Success Rate is designed to show the proportion of student-athletes who earn a college degree.

“We are fully supportive of the Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership and are pleased to be part of this exciting project,” Carol and Robert Garvy said. “UCF has become very special to us and we are particularly interested in the development and future of UCF student-athletes.”

The Garvys’ son Kevin was a member of the Knights football team from 2008-12, seeing action in every game of his senior season. Kevin Garvy is a 2012 UCF graduate with a bachelor’s degree in finance. The younger Garvy is currently enrolled at UCF as a graduate student and is scheduled to earn his MBA this spring. In addition, Robert Garvy is a member of the UCF Athletics Association Board of Directors and the UCF Board of Trustees.

The Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership will serve as the headquarters for UCF student-athletes’ personal, professional and academic development. It will house UCF’s Student-Athlete Leadership Institute, Academic Services for Student-Athletes, Student Services and Compliance departments. The center will also provide operations space to serve more than 500 student-athletes. It will include a multi-purpose classroom, which will hold 200 students, a computer lab, tutoring and mentoring rooms, study space and conference and resource rooms.

UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury said the gift from the Garvy Family Foundation will help ensure the development of Knight student-athletes long into the future.

“We are very grateful to Carol and Bob Garvy for this wonderful gift,” Stansbury said. “Thanks to this commitment from the Garvy Family Foundation, UCF student-athletes – our Everyday Champions – will continue to benefit from the Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership for years and years to come.”

UCF President John C. Hitt echoed those sentiments.

“It means so much to have the generous support of Carol and Bob Garvy and the Garvy Family Foundation,” Hitt said. “This gift to the Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership will allow our student-athletes to grow into academic and community leaders who will make Knights everywhere proud.”

The Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership will be located just east of and adjacent to Bright House Networks Stadium. Construction is slated to begin before the end of 2014.

The UCF Foundation and UCF Athletics said the charitable gift of $4 million will support the construction of the Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership. The new center will be the centerpiece of UCF’s vision to mold its student-athletes into community leaders who are prepared to make a difference in the world.

“We are very grateful to the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust and Leonard Williams for this record-setting gift,” UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury said. “Mr. Densch was a wonderful supporter of UCF Athletics and we’re absolutely thrilled to name the Wayne Densch Student-Athlete Leadership Center in his honor.

“We are first and foremost educators. This facility will allow us to deliver on our core mission of developing our Everyday Champion student-athletes into future leaders for many, many years to come.”

The Wayne Densch Student-Athlete Leadership Center will serve as the headquarters for UCF student-athletes’ personal, professional and academic development. It will house UCF’s Student-Athlete Leadership Institute, Academic Services for Student-Athletes, Student Services and Compliance departments, while also providing operations space to serve more than 500 student-athletes. The center will include a multi-purpose classroom which will hold 200 students, a computer lab, tutoring and mentoring rooms, study space and conference and resource rooms.

“The Wayne Densch Charitable Trust has been a stalwart supporter of UCF Athletics for decades,” said UCF President John C. Hitt. “This generous gift represents another milestone in the outstanding partnership between UCF and the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust to support our student-athletes.”

UCF’s longstanding partnership with the late Wayne M. Densch dates back to 1985, when the Orlando businessman pledged $1 million to fund athletic scholarships. It also includes support for UCF’s original athletic complex. Under the leadership of Leonard E. Williams, the charitable trust made a $2.5 million donation toward the construction of the Wayne Densch Sports Center, which opened in 2003 and is home to the UCF football program and the department’s strength and conditioning centers.

“UCF was his favorite team,” said Williams, who serves as trustee of the Wayne Densch Charitable Trust. “Because UCF was Wayne’s favorite charitable cause, we’ve tried to continue honoring what he was doing when he was alive. I think he would be pleased by this gift.”

Wayne Densch, who passed away in 1994, had moved to Orlando from Kentucky. Densch was, according to Mr. Williams, “a man who didn’t hesitate to help, but one who didn’t want the publicity.”

The $4 million gift to the Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership allows UCF to initiate the design phase of the $6.5 million project, while the remaining funds are raised. The Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership will be located just east of and adjacent to Bright House Networks Stadium. Construction is expected to begin in mid- to late 2014.

The football team, spirit squads and band took part in UCF’s very own parade to celebrate the Knights’ historic Tostitos Fiesta Bowl win on a picturesque day at the Magic Kingdom.

“It was outstanding. It’s just a great situation having Disney in the hometown. The only time I’ve seen them do this is for Super Bowl champs. So we feel very honored to have this done today,” UCF football head coach George O’Leary said. “The UCF family showed up in great numbers – it was three, four, five deep during that parade. I’m sure the players really appreciated that. I never waved so much and smiled so much in my life.”

Knights fans stood underneath black and gold balloons tied to the lamp posts that lined Main Street, U.S.A.

Kids sat atop their parents’ shoulders waving black and gold pompoms. Women accessorized their outfits with gold mouse ears.

There were periodic chants of “U-C-F” and “Go Knights!” as thousands of fans waited for the parade to commence.

“It was like a UCF takeover. All these fans came out to show us support and love. It’s crazy. It just shows how far we’ve come as a university and a team,” junior linebacker said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think UCF would get its own parade at Disney World in front of all these people. Disney is a worldwide corporation – everyone knows about the Magic Kingdom and Cinderella’s Castle. I’m standing right in front of it. This is my first time being at Disney World and I feel like I’m 10 years old, and I’m 20. It’s just a big experience and I’m so grateful and thankful.”

O’Leary posed for numerous “selfies” at the request of fans. Players signed autographs for little girls dressed as Snow White and Belle.

It seemed those in attendance were just as thrilled to meet their heroes as the players were delighted to have them there.

“We got to see the football players and they videoed us,” 11-year-old Emma Jones said, referring to the UCF video department’s GoPro cameras fitted to several players’ championship hats. “Usually, it’s us videoing them.”

Jill Tocco, a 1997 alum, and her husband Todd, a former UCF baseball player and a member of the Class of 1995, had planned on taking their three children Sofia, Mia and Ben to Disney this weekend. When they heard about the parade, they knew Sunday would be the perfect day.

“It’s a dream come true,” Tocco said of the team’s success this season. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this.”

Many Knights referenced the famous “I’m going to Disney World!” tagline that newly crowned champions utter after being asked what they plan to do next. It may be a perk to be Disney’s hometown team, but it is also a perk that surely was not taken for granted Sunday.

“It was just an incredible turnout by Knight Nation,” UCF vice president and director of athletics Todd Stansbury said. “It was a fitting way to celebrate with our UCF family and our Disney family.”

UCF’s overall GSR was 89 percent, up four points from last year’s report. The Knights’ percentage was also seven points above the NCAA average of 82 percent.

The Knights rank No. 1 among public institutions in the State of Florida, second overall in the state and tied with Ohio State for 15th in the country among Football Bowl Subdivision institutions. UCF’s GSR also ranks highest among current American Athletic Conference institutions.

Eleven of UCF’s 14 programs (women’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field are combined) improved their GSR from the previous year’s report or maintained a 100 percent mark. Eleven of UCF’s programs also came in above the national average for their sport.

Three Knights squads – women’s tennis, women’s basketball and men’s golf – were at a perfect 100 percent. It was the eighth consecutive season for women’s tennis to record a 100-percent score. Women’s soccer recorded the biggest improvement among Knights programs, jumping nine percentage points. Eight Ů��AV programs were at 90 percent or better.

“We have a group of high-achieving, hard-working student-athletes,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Todd Stansbury. “Our coaches and academic staff promote a culture of academic performance on a daily basis. Our graduation success rate is indicative of the emphasis our student-athletes put on academics.”

The football program finished 12 points above the national average, with an 83-percent mark, compared to 71 percent nationally. It was the seventh consecutive year the football program improved its GSR. Football’s 83 percent was a program-best score. In football, UCF ranks No. 2 among American Athletic Conference schools.

“These numbers are proof that our student-athletes, coaches and academic advisors are doing a great job promoting the goal of graduation,” said Kimya Massey, Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services. “It’s very satisfying to work with a group that puts so much effort toward success in competition and in the classroom.”

The GSR data in this most recent report is for student-athletes who first enrolled in 2006.

The announcement was made during the GAA Leinster Football Finals at Croke Park with members of each institution present, including UCF Vice President and Director of Todd Stansbury and Head Coach George O’Leary.

At this time, all U.S. fans can guarantee their seats for the Croke Park Classic by purchasing the Official UCF Ireland Experiences provided by Anthony Travel, the Knights’ and the Croke Park Classic’s official travel partner. These packages will provide Knights fans the ability and convenience to enjoy Ireland and UCF-specific events with fellow Knights supporters leading up to the game.

Check out or call Anthony Travel at 877-260-0645 for all of the details. Seating will be based on GKC priority points. Season ticket holders and donors who order packages by Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, will receive priority for ticket allocation. After GKC priority point holders are seated, general public fans will have their seats assigned based on purchase date. To learn more about the GKC, visit .

“This is a wonderful opportunity for UCF to continue growing its reputation around the world,” Stansbury said. “We are educators and this will be a learning experience for these young people. The chance to introduce this group of Knights to another country and another culture will serve them well in the future. Traveling overseas will provide our student-athletes a unique experience they will remember the rest of their lives. We look forward to joining Penn State in this memorable trip to Ireland.”

“We are very excited about the prospect of playing our 2014 season opener in Dublin,” said Coach O’Leary. “It’s a great opportunity for UCF, and a chance for us to grow the exposure of our football program.

“On a personal level, obviously Coach (Bill) O’Brien (Penn State) and myself are both of Irish heritage, so obviously it means a great deal to both of us to be in a position to bring our teams here. We are confident that Croke Park will be an excellent venue for us to play in, we have been hugely impressed to date with the facilities and we are looking forward to a huge crowd to get our 2014 season off to a flying start. We are confident that Croke Park will generate an unforgettable atmosphere for this game.”

“We are thrilled to announce that we will play UCF at Croke Park to open the 2014 season,” O’Brien said. “Our players and coaches are so excited to go to Ireland and play a college football game in such a historic and outstanding venue. I have great respect for Coach O’Leary and his team and playing Ů��AV in Ireland will be a fantastic experience for all the players, coaches and fans.”

Both coaches are very familiar with each other, as Coach O’Brien served under Coach O’Leary while the duo was at Georgia Tech. And not only do they both have Irish backgrounds, Ů��AV placekicker Sean Galvin hails from the city of Cork, which is just less than a 3-hour drive southwest of Dublin. Galvin, who handled kickoff duties for the Knights last season, is set to be a junior this year.

“This is an exciting announcement, not only for UCF and Penn State, but for the American Athletic Conference and the Big Ten Conference as well,” American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco said. “This game reflects the creative scheduling that will energize our conference. The game also serves a larger purpose of providing our student-athletes with a valuable cultural experience while contributing to the growth of college football on the world stage.

“There will be tremendous anticipation for this special contest. We know that ESPN2 will produce a terrific telecast that will capture the uniqueness of the Dublin venue and will be the only live game on television in that time slot.”

“This is a hugely significant event for Croke Park and Ireland. We in the GAA are looking forward to hosting a competitive sporting occasion,” said Páraic Duffy, GAA Director General. “Irish people are renowned for their love of sport as evidenced by the thousands who attend our games throughout the year. I have no doubt that this game will be every bit as attractive.”

“This will be a fantastic event for Croke Park and for Ireland,” Minister of Transport Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said. “The Navy vs. Notre Dame (game) in 2012 welcomed 35,000 U.S. visitors to Dublin. The Croke Park Classic will be every bit as important, and just as exciting, and both teams are guaranteed a warm welcome. It’s great news for sports fans, for the GAA and the wider economy. I congratulate everyone involved on making this possible.”

This will mark the first time for both UCF and Penn State (which tangle in Pennsylvania Sept. 14, 2013) that the two schools will play a college football game in another country. The Knights’ only other experience with a foreign environment was when it defeated the Moscow Bears, 43-6, in an exhibition game at the Florida Citrus Bowl Oct. 3, 1992.

According to NCAA records, there have been seven regular-season games between NCAA programs in Ireland. The last contest held at Croke Park took place in 1996 when Notre Dame defeated Navy, 54-27, and seating capacity for the 2013 Croke Park Classic will be 69,000.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Traveling to Ireland

For a full list of FAQs, visit UCF.CrokeParkClassic.com

Are game tickets included in the travel package?

Game tickets are included in the travel package. All travel packages are sold on a first come, first-serve basis.

Is airfare included?

No, airfare or transportation to and from the airport is not included.

Do infants and children need tickets to get into the game?

At this time, each individual will need a ticket to get into the game.

Are adjoining rooms available?

We will make every effort to accommodate special requests but cannot guarantee adjoining rooms as they are not readily available.

Will you have handicap accessible hotel rooms and tickets?

We will make every effort to accommodate all handicap requests. Any requests for handicap accessible rooms or game tickets should be conveyed at the time of making the reservation.

Do I need a passport to travel to Ireland?

Yes, you do need a passport to travel to Ireland. Passports must be issued by the United States government and they must be valid for six months beyond the trip date.

Can I pay the full balance of my trip at the time of booking?

Yes, but the standard package cancellations fees will still apply.

Can I change the dates on my travel package?

No, our travel packages are for specific dates.

If I choose not to attend this game, can I get my deposit back?

From the time of booking until Jan. 17, 2014, cancellations will incur a non-refundable $250 per package cancellation fee. Cancellations made between Jan. 17, 2014 and May 2, 2014 will incur a non-refundable $500 cancellation fee per package. All cancellations made after final payment date of May 2, 2014, are fully non-refundable.

Can I extend my stay?

Yes, you may add additional nights to your reservation. This is done on a request basis which can be made with Anthony Travel. Please contact Anthony Travel to make your request. A request usually takes 4-5 business days to confirm. The standard room only payment and cancellation policies will apply to nights booked outside the package dates.

On Wednesday, long-time UCLA women’s head coach Jeanette Bolden was appointed as the next head coach of the UCF track and field program.

“I’m extremely excited and also honored that Todd Stansbury has the faith in me to lead the track and field program,” Bolden said. “Ů��AV is a fresh and vibrant university and has a lot of opportunities for young people. I plan to continue the upward arc of the program. Coach Caryl (Smith Gilbert) invested a lot in the team, and I just want to continue the successful path that she started to pave.

“I have been at UCLA all my life and I am grateful for the opportunities I had there. I will always be indebted to them, and I thank the athletic department, especially (athletic director) Dan Guerrero, for all they have done for me.”

Bolden, who comes to Orlando after spending the last 20 years at her alma mater, will fill the void left by Caryl Smith Gilbert, who accepted the position of director of men’s and women’s track and field at USC in early June. Bolden inherits a program that has skyrocketed to the top of collegiate track and field in recent years. The Knights have won six Conference USA titles (4 outdoor, 2 indoor), recorded two top-five finishes at the NCAA Championships and racked up more than 50 All-America honors.

“We’re very excited to have a coach the caliber of Jeanette Bolden join the UCF family,” said Todd Stansbury, Vice President and Director of . “To hire a Hall of Fame coach, who has won an Olympic gold medal, coached Olympic champions and led teams to multiple NCAA Championships shows the level of commitment we have to women’s track and field here at UCF. We currently have one of the top teams in the nation. With Coach Bolden leading our efforts, I believe we can become a long-term powerhouse track and field program.”

Bolden’s accomplishments as a collegiate head coach, U. S. Olympic head coach and gold-medal winning U. S. Olympic athlete are unmatched in the world of track and field. As the Bruins’ head coach from 1994-2013, she led UCLA to three NCAA team championships — the 2004 outdoor and the 2000 and 2001 indoor titles. They were the first national indoor track and field crowns – men’s or women’s – in school history.

A specialist with sprinters and hurdlers, Bolden also mentored four Bruins to six NCAA outdoor individual championships: Nicole Leach (2007/2009, 400H), Monique Henderson (2005, 400M), Sheena Johnson (2003/2004, 400H) and Joanna Hayes (1999, 400H). Since 1994, Bolden has coached more than 50 UCLA All-Americans in the sprints, hurdles and relays.

Under her direction, the Bruins won 10 Pac-10 Conference titles, including eight consecutive from 1997-2004. She is a 10-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year and nine-time United States Track Coaches Association (USTCA) West Region Coach of the Year.

In 2006, Bolden earned one of the highest honors of her distinguished coaching career when she was named head coach of the U.S. women’s track and field team for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. She was the first head coach in U.S. Olympic history to have won an Olympic medal as an athlete. At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Bolden earned a gold medal on the U.S. women’s 4×100 relay and placed fourth in the 100 meters.

In Beijing, Bolden led the American women to, at the time, their third-highest medal count (23) in U.S. Olympic history and the most since the 1992 Barcelona Games. Bolden helped coach Dawn Harper (gold, 100H), Johnson (bronze, 400H) and Henderson (gold, 4×400 Relay) to Olympic glory.

On Feb. 13, 2004, Bolden was presented the prestigious C. Vivian Stringer Award, an accolade which is presented to a woman who has experienced outstanding achievement as a coach – exhibiting a high standard of propriety, imagination and innovation as a character builder in the tradition of great teacher-coaches.

Six years later, she was inducted to the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame.

Bolden has served on a number of NCAA and track and field boards and has been an assistant coach for the World Indoor and Outdoor Championships. In 1998, she was named the USOC Track & Field Developmental Coach of the Year. In 1994, Bolden served as an assistant coach for the West squad at the Olympic Festival in St. Louis, Mo. and in 2006, she served as the head coach for the 2006 World Cup, which was held in Greece.

As an athlete at UCLA from 1981-83, Bolden was a five-time All-America performer. In 1982, she helped lead the Bruins to their first NCAA Outdoor championship. She graduated in 1983 with a degree in sociology. She served as an assistant for two years before taking over the program in 1994.

Bolden and her family own the famous 27th Street Bakery in Los Angeles. She and her husband of 25 years, Al, have two children, twins Anthony and Kimberly, age 13.

The Jeanette Bolden File