CLINTON, Iowa - The rising Ashford University track and field program announced a series of coaching changes that will be effective immediately partway into the winter season. These revisions affect current AU staff members including Chris Adams, Tyson Graham and Sheena James.

"We are excited to see this move go through and have full confidence in our coaching staff to develop our programs," said AU Athletics Director Meg Schebler. "This re-alignment will coincide with efficiency in daily activities, recruiting and our performance levels at indoor and outdoor events."

The former AU graduate assistant coach Adams has been elevated to head coach of the Saints track and field program. He specialized in sprints in his former position and was an assistant coach for the cross country team.

Plans had been in the making for some time for Adams to assume head coaching responsibilities, a sign of a collaborative team effort that Ashford envisioned for the promising future of both programs.

"Having a full staff will help us get over the hurdle of competing for third place in the conference in the near future," said Adams, who earned USATF Level 2 Coaching Certification recently. "It will be key in recruiting and day-to-day operations. This is something that we knew was coming and we allowed for the transition to take place."

In his second year at the helm of both programs, Tyson Graham, previous head coach, will still remain with the track and field program in capacity as an assistant while serving as head coach of the AU cross country squads.

Throws specialist Sheena James, who served Ashford as a volunteer assistant coach last season, has been promoted to a full-time assistant.

James, a former Clinton High School grad and Big Ten Conference shot put champion at Purdue University, will also be assisting Ashford's other intercollegiate sports in the area of strength and conditioning.

"This is the first step in trying to promote and elevate our programs to the next level," Graham said. "There are so many new benefits including alleviating administrative recruiting. There are now three voices instead of one."