Jacob Ashworth has been named coach of the Central Carolina Community College cross country program.
SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College is adding cross country to its athletic program beginning in Fall 2018.
"We are pleased to be adding cross country to our athletic program," said CCCC President Dr. T. Eston Marchant. "This is a marvelous opportunity for area high school cross country athletes to join the CCCC program, where they can enjoy the sport while continuing their academic endeavors."
Jacob Ashworth, a former cross country coach at Lee County High School, has been selected to serve as the CCCC cross country coach.
"Jacob is interested in the whole person, not just the athlete, and he strives to teach them good habits that apply to athletics as well as life," said Ken Hoyle, CCCC Vice President of Student Services. "His philosophy completely follows CCCC's very of the model student-athlete. He is very disciplined, dedicated, caring, and attentive to detail, and his vast knowledge of the high school cross country programs in our service area will serve him well as he starts to build our cross country program."
"We are very excited to have Jacob as our cross country coach," said CCCC Athletic Director Jonathan Hockaday. "We believe his experience with the sport, along with his local ties, makes him the perfect fit. We are looking forward to seeing great things from the cross country program."
Ashworth was the cross country and track and field coach at Lee County High School for three years before he stepped aside in December 2016 to focus on a master's degree. He also founded the Lee County Track Club.
Ashworth believes the CCCC program will offer runners the ability to continue to compete after high school as they pursue their associate degrees.
"The opportunity to build the program from the ground up is the most interesting and exciting aspect of coaching CCCC," said Ashworth. "I will be able to continue to share my love of the sport while implementing the tradition that is often times associated with a cross country team. Also, CCCC has several great programs to offer student-athletes such as the C-STEP program, which allows students to transfer to UNC-Chapel Hill. The C-STEP, along with other transferring opportunities, should make CCCC enticing to anyone interested in pursuing a four-year degree."
Ashworth wants those athletes who are considering the CCCC cross country program to expect hard work and dedication. "I am going to make sure that my athletes have every resource they need to be successful both on the course and in the classroom," he said. "Any student willing to commit to the team can be assured that I will commit myself to making sure they are successful."
Ashworth's hometown is Lake Charles, La. He and his wife, Tiffany, have a son, Clayton, and a child on the way.
Any high school students who are interested in participating in the CCCC cross country program can contact Coach Ashworth at jashw842@cccc.ed.
For information about Central Carolina Community College and its programs, visit its website, www.cccc.edu or call the college at 919-775-5401.
Jacob Ashworth has been named coach of the Central Carolina Community College cross country program.