Erv Hunt, who as head coach of the U.S. Olympic men's track and field team in 1996 helped guide the Americans to 10 gold medals, has been named an assistant coach with the UC Davis track and field program and will join current UC Davis Director of Track and Field Deanne Vochatzer to provide the Aggies both the U.S. men's and women's head coaches from the Atlanta Games.

Inducted last year into the United States Track & Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Hunt spent 31 years coaching the track and field and cross country programs at Cal before subsequently retiring from the university in 2005. He will assist in all areas of the UC Davis program, focusing on sprints and hurdles while taking charge of the Aggies' 4x100 relay teams.

"The UC Davis program has excellent student-athletes with a real desire to succeed both on and off the field at the highest level," he said. "After being a part of a wonderful UC program in Berkeley for 33 years, I consider it a privilege to be a small part of such a classy and extremely highly respected program such as UC Davis."

Hunt's coaching career is highlighted by his service at Cal where he began in 1972. He is the most successful coach in the history of the Bears' program, posting a .773 winning percentage with the men's program while winning nearly 250 dual meets. His women's teams were nearly as successful, winning .698 of the time with 84 dual meet victories. Along the way he coached the Cal men to 10 top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships, including three in the top 10.

Hunt also coached 50 conference champions and 87 All-Americans, including five NCAA champions. Besides his international experience with the 1996 Olympics where he led the American men to 16 total medals, Hunt served was the U.S. head coach for the 1995 World University Games in Japan, and was an assistant coach on staffs at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, the 1993 World Championships in Germany and the 1986 Freedom Games in Moscow.