With the Track & Field team aiming to get better, Diamond Bar High School welcomed in a new member to improve their athletic program. Bringing in a wealth of experience as both a former instructor and runner, track and field head coach Tony Crutchfield Jr. has taken the field, beginning in January.

Starting from the tender age of five, Crutchfield has over two decades of competitive track experience. In Riverside Community College, Crutchfield became a two-time state champion and placed in the top 10 at the California State High School meet in the 110-meter hurdle sprint. He also took third place in the Big West Division 1 Track & Field Championships, a prestigious event that hosted runners from all over the West Coast.

“Track is my life—I eat, breathe and sleep the sport. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings you can find me running on the Whittier College track,” Crutchfield said. “With so much success and knowledge, my track experiences led me to my coaching career.”

Crutchfield went on to lead at different high schools including Ayala, St. Paul, Whittier Beckman and Whittier College before he was attracted by Diamond Bar’s exciting achievements and aspirations. 

“Diamond Bar High School speaks for itself. I’m super excited to be a part of DBHS and its phenomenal academics and athletics programs,” Crutchfield said. “I’m really looking forward to working with my student athletes while building each athlete to become better individuals on and off the track.”

Interpersonal relationships are crucial to building any team environment. As the head coach, Crutchfield is not an exception to this rule—he aims to get to know and understand each and every athlete on the team. In terms of the actual track & field practices, individual sessions will be held according to each runner’s specialties and strengths. Each specialty group will be divided into multiple practice sessions with set schedules and competition peak phases.

In the near future, Crutchfield has plans to host the first track invitational on their home field, as well as several meets which will include a Purple vs. Gold in-house competition. 

“Seeing my athletes’ successes on the track and later in life makes me so proud,” Crutchfield said. “I also love hearing from my athletes later on after graduation that they are going to their dream college and doing well or working at their dream job.”