Curtis Allen takes job at UCLA

COS head track and field head coach Curtis Allen has accepted an assistant coaching position at UCLA to coach the sprinters and the relay teams for the newly hired Director of Track and Field Avery Anderson. Allen was hired at COS in April of 2002 as an assistant football coach as well as the head track and field coach. The 55-year-old Allen is a local product who graduated from Redwood High School in Visalia before going on to play football at Fresno State.

"I am going to miss the coaches, the staff, and student-athletes at COS" said Allen. "COS will always hold a special place in my heart. The opportunity to compete at the highest level of amateur sports was too intriguing to pass up. UCLA is a special place and it provides me with the opportunity to challenge myself at the highest level."

COS track and field saw unprecedented success under Allen which included the state championship last year for the COS men's track and field program. "The men's and women's programs have finished in the top 5 of the state championships in each of the last four years" said COS Athletic Director Brent Davis. "We are going to miss Curtis around here.  His skill set fits the four year level and UCLA is getting a great coach and recruiter.  Not only was Curtis able to attract top-notch student-athletes to COS but all of them got faster and improved their skill level while they were here under Curtis."

Allen was also the head football coach at COS from 2005 through 2010 and was remembered for bringing excitement to the COS football program. "We were able to have multiple games during those times where we had over 5,000 people attend the games.  Having that many people in the stands makes the kids feel really supported. I was appreciative of the community for coming out to support" said Allen.  

During Allen's tenure as football and track and field coach many COS student-athletes were able to move on and receive four year university scholarships. "That is what I am most proud of and will remember the most from COS are all the kids that were able to work their way into a four year university student-athlete. I am so proud of those kids I can't even begin to describe it. "