Medina joined the Azusa Pacific coaching staff as a volunteer for the track team in March of 2021, helping the distance group and cross country program. In August of 2021, he was named an official assistant coach for Cougar cross country.
Prior to his arrival at Azusa Pacific, Medina coached at San Bernardino Valley College from May 2019 until May 2020. During his time at SBVC, he helped three athletes transfer to four-year universities.
Not only has Medina gained coaching experience at the collegiate level, but he created “Simple Athletics,” a small remote-based coaching company aimed at helping individuals and teams become the best version of themselves, through running and a simplified look at the day-to-day process. During that time, he made lifelong friendships and also helped guide Melissa High School (Texas) to a runner-up finish at the 2020 Texas 4A State Cross Country Championships.
Beyond his coaching career, Medina is an elite runner with a decorated career.
Medina grew up in Ventura, Calif., where he attended Ventura HS. At VHS, he earned personal bests of 1:53.27 and 4:15.71 for 800m/1600m.
After high school, he competed at Chico State University, where Azusa Pacific cross country head coach Sean Smith was an assistant coach from 2014-17. Under the guidance of Gary Towne and the help of his teammates, Medina earned nine NCAA D2 All-Americans (six track, three cross country), was a three-time NCAA runner-up (1500m in 2016 & 2017, Steeplechase in 2018), broke 2 two school records (1500m in 3:41.80 and Steeplechase in 8:34.84), and earned a 4th place team finish at the 2016 NCAA D2 Cross Country Championships.
He graduated from Chico State with a BA in Kinesiology.
After graduation, he competed at the 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the Steeplechase, placing 15th in a PB of 8:34.84. Soon after, Medina moved to Boulder, Colo, where trained and competed for the up-and-coming professional team “Tinman Elite”. As a member of Tinman Elite, he helped the club win the 2018 USA Club Cross Country Championships, and ran 13:55 at the 2018 Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, and qualified for the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the Steeplechase.
Currently, Medina is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Academic Administration from National University.
