Andy Ponce de Leon, who spent two years on the coaching staff at Arizona State University, was been named assistant coach for the Butler track and field and cross country teams in September, 2012.

“I have known Andy for the better part of a decade,” said Butler head coach Matt Roe, who coached Ponce de Leon at Long Beach State.  “He is a tireless worker who brings an exceptionally wide range of skills to Indianapolis.  His positive personality and demeanor will be well received in our program and on campus.”

The new Butler assistant coach served as a graduate assistant coach at Arizona State, where he played a vital role in the day-to-day operations of one of the NCAA’s elite track and field/cross country programs.  During his time in Tempe, he managed Arizona State’s home competitions in track and field, and assisted in the hosting of the Pac 12 Cross Country Championship.  He had responsibility for team travel and apparel, and he was involved in distance events recruiting and fund-raising.

During his two years in Tempe (2010-12), the Sun Devils remained near the top of the NCAA ranks, including a fourth place finish at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championship.  That same year, Arizona State captured the men’s Mountain Pacific Indoor Title.  After a runner-up finish at the Pac 12 Outdoor Championship, the Sun Devils placed 16th at the 2012 NCAA Men’s Outdoor Championship.

A 2006 graduate of Long Beach State, Ponce de Leon joined Arizona State’s staff after a highly-successful, two-year stint as Assistant Distance Coach at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.  In addition to coaching Mt. Sac’s men’s and women’s distance runners, he served as the program’s Recruiting and Transfer Coordinator, developing a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the California Junior College system.  In his first year, he quadrupled the Mounties roster, securing the deepest and most talented recruiting class in school history.

During his time at Mt. Sac, Ponce de Leon also began building one of the top meet management resumes in the country.  He played an integral role in the hosting of the largest high school cross country meet in the United States, the Mt. Sac Invitational, as well as one of the nation’s premier track meets, the Mt. Sac Relays.

After a successful running career at Long Beach State, Ponce de Leon began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2006.  For two years, he helped coach the school’s distance runners, while having responsible for recruiting, monitoring student-athlete progress and meet management.  In 2006, he helped Long Beach State to its first conference outdoor championship in 30 years.