TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State track and field program has named 14-year coaching veteran Tamara Ards as their new assistant coach with a focus on the women's sprint group, the program announced Tuesday.
Ards joins the Sun Devils after spending the last three seasons with North Carolina State, where she was recently a finalist for the NCAA Southeast Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
"When we decided to separate the responsibilities for our men's and women's programs, we wanted to focus on the student-athlete experience. When we were beginning that search, we didn't have anybody specifically in mind," said Director of Sun Devil track & field Greg Kraft. "There were over 150 applicants for the job, but quickly coach Ards rose to the top of that resume heap. She just checked all the boxes that we wanted. She's been in some outstanding programs and has been mentored by excellent coaches during her time. I think she is going to be an outstanding mentor to our women both on and off the track, and I feel that goes hand in hand. We couldn't be happier for her to be on board."
The Arizona native makes her homecoming after spending time between the University of Texas, Clemson, LSU and her alma mater Colorado. While at Clemson, she assisted in the development of 2016 Team USA Olympic gold medal hurdler & NCAA Champion Brianna Rollins.
"It's exciting to come back home," said Ards, a native of Tucson, Ariz. "Growing up, I always heard about Arizona State track and field, so it's an honor to come back and I hope to continue and improve upon that legacy. I bring a lot of enthusiasm for the sport and my vision is to bring back another national championship for this program."
Between her six seasons at NC State and Clemson, Ards helped coach the team to four ACC Championships, 29 individual ACC Champions, and had 54 All-Americans.
Ards is also the U.S. Track & Field Vice-Chair for the Coaches Education Committee and a Level 1 Instructor for jumps, sprints, hurdles and combined events.
Prior to coaching, she used her broadcast journalism degree from the University of Colorado working as an anchor, producer and director for various television stations in Colorado and Illinois. She also earned her master's degree in sports administration from UNLV in 2010.
Ards joins the Sun Devils after spending the last three seasons with North Carolina State, where she was recently a finalist for the NCAA Southeast Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
"When we decided to separate the responsibilities for our men's and women's programs, we wanted to focus on the student-athlete experience. When we were beginning that search, we didn't have anybody specifically in mind," said Director of Sun Devil track & field Greg Kraft. "There were over 150 applicants for the job, but quickly coach Ards rose to the top of that resume heap. She just checked all the boxes that we wanted. She's been in some outstanding programs and has been mentored by excellent coaches during her time. I think she is going to be an outstanding mentor to our women both on and off the track, and I feel that goes hand in hand. We couldn't be happier for her to be on board."
The Arizona native makes her homecoming after spending time between the University of Texas, Clemson, LSU and her alma mater Colorado. While at Clemson, she assisted in the development of 2016 Team USA Olympic gold medal hurdler & NCAA Champion Brianna Rollins.
"It's exciting to come back home," said Ards, a native of Tucson, Ariz. "Growing up, I always heard about Arizona State track and field, so it's an honor to come back and I hope to continue and improve upon that legacy. I bring a lot of enthusiasm for the sport and my vision is to bring back another national championship for this program."
Between her six seasons at NC State and Clemson, Ards helped coach the team to four ACC Championships, 29 individual ACC Champions, and had 54 All-Americans.
Ards is also the U.S. Track & Field Vice-Chair for the Coaches Education Committee and a Level 1 Instructor for jumps, sprints, hurdles and combined events.
Prior to coaching, she used her broadcast journalism degree from the University of Colorado working as an anchor, producer and director for various television stations in Colorado and Illinois. She also earned her master's degree in sports administration from UNLV in 2010.