Chelscie Pacheco joins coaching staff at Central State University


WILBERFORCE - Chelscie Pacheco has been named Central State University's assistant coach for the track & field and cross country programs.
 

"As we continue to build our program, Coach Pacheco is a great addition to Marauder track & field," says CSU's first year track & field head coach Elliott Lightfoot. "As we approach the new season, we are on an upward trajectory as a team and as a university. It is exciting to have an assistant coach that displays an unmatched work ethic, enthusiasm and passion for developing student-athletes. We can't wait to get back to work and compete for championships."


Pacheco previously served as an assistant at Nicholls State University, a graduate assistant at California State University – Fullerton, and an assistant at San Joaquin Delta College.
 

In one season on staff at Nicholls State, Pacheco assisted the program in recruiting and worked with the mid-distance runners. Under her guidance, distance runner Elsa Rijipstra earned All-Conference honors, All-Academic honors, and Louisiana Sports Writers' All-Louisiana Cross Country honors. Nicholls State also earned the USTFCCCA Academic Team Award and had 20 student-athletes on the Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.
 

Pacheco spent 2018 through 2020 as an assistant at California State - Fullerton, where she worked with middle and long-distance runners. During the 2019-20 cross country season, she helped lead the women's team to their first conference championship title in program history, and the men to a second-place finish.
 

The previous year, Pacheco guided the women's cross country team to the program's best result in school history with a second place finish at the league meet. She also helped the women's outdoor track & field team to their first-ever conference championship.
 

Pacheco was part of the progression and development of runner Samantha Huerta, who set school records in the 800m (2:03.96), 1500m (4:18.39), and mile (4:46.77), along with a 14th-place finish at Nationals in the 800m. Pacheco also assisted in developing a strong men's and women's steeplechase group that had three women and two men score at the conference championships, with two male athletes advancing to the NCAA Regional Championships.


Prior to her time at Fullerton, Pacheco spent one year as the assistant cross country coach at San Joaquin Delta College, where she also helped with recruiting and fundraising.
 

"I appreciate Coach Lightfoot for giving me the opportunity to come to Central State University," Pacheco says. "Coach Lightfoot has a great vision for our program. The similar coaching philosophies and values we share will be great as we work together to build our program. We have great support from President Dr. Jack Thomas, Athletics Director Tara A. Owens as well as our alumni which makes CSU a great place to be."
 

Pacheco is from Lodi, California. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology - Exercise Science from Sacramento State University and her Masters of Science in Kinesiology from California State University - Fullerton.
 

As a student-athlete, Pacheco was a two-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic performer. She also competed in rowing at Sacramento State, winning a gold medal at the WIRA Championship.


The CSU cross country teams are scheduled to begin fall competition on September 3rd at the Wright State University Mike Baumer Classic at Fairborn Community Park.
 

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