2008 Woodie Awards
VALLEY PEOPLE: Wolman Brings Division I Expertise to Valley College
Francois Wolman brings his Division experience to Valley with the hope to lead he Monarchs to victory.
Chris Garcia
Issue date: 10/12/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Two of the best high school 800-meter runners competed against each other in the summer of 1974 at the National Championships. As the race ended, only two runners beat future mile world record holder Steve Scott. One of runners was Valley College cross country coach Francois Wolman.
Wolman posted 1:52.7 time and placed second in the race. As a senior who had migrated from Paris at 12, he was one of the best half-mile runner prospects in the country.
"I like it here at Valley because I feel comfortable and have more freedom in my coaching," said Wolman, who coached high school cross country before coming to Valley. Wolman was offered several scholarships, but he didn't decide what school to attend until he was approached by running legend Steve Prefontaine. Prefontaine asked Wolman to run for the University of Oregon.
" My first practice at Oregon was an eight-mile run with [Prefontaine]," said Wolman.
He decided to attend the best running school in the country in Oregon. In his freshman year, Wolman was the eleventh man for a cross country team that won the National Championship in 1974.
"The team was so good that I could have been a top-five runner for any other team," Wolman said.
After his sophomore year, Wolman decided to transfer to CSUN and finish his education, where he earned a bachelor's degree in French. He earned his teaching credential from UCLA and attended Pepperdine University, where he earned a master's degree in psychology.
The UCLA graduate decided to become a coach. He got his first coaching job at Keppel High School in Alhambra. He coached at several high schools before taking a job as head cross country coach for the Santa Monica Track Club in 1995. He took the club to three straight state meets.
In 1999, Wolman was offered a job at Valley College. Wolman is also a full-time teacher at College of the Canyons were he teaches five French classes.
"We hate it in practice sometimes but we realize that we are lucky because coach gives us Division I training," said top runner Jordan Castellanos.
Wolman posted 1:52.7 time and placed second in the race. As a senior who had migrated from Paris at 12, he was one of the best half-mile runner prospects in the country.
 Media Credit: Dan Villasenor OFF TRACK - Monarchs´ cross country and track & field head coach Francois Wolman prepares his team for the upcoming cross-country meet. |
"I like it here at Valley because I feel comfortable and have more freedom in my coaching," said Wolman, who coached high school cross country before coming to Valley. Wolman was offered several scholarships, but he didn't decide what school to attend until he was approached by running legend Steve Prefontaine. Prefontaine asked Wolman to run for the University of Oregon.
" My first practice at Oregon was an eight-mile run with [Prefontaine]," said Wolman.
He decided to attend the best running school in the country in Oregon. In his freshman year, Wolman was the eleventh man for a cross country team that won the National Championship in 1974.
"The team was so good that I could have been a top-five runner for any other team," Wolman said.
After his sophomore year, Wolman decided to transfer to CSUN and finish his education, where he earned a bachelor's degree in French. He earned his teaching credential from UCLA and attended Pepperdine University, where he earned a master's degree in psychology.
The UCLA graduate decided to become a coach. He got his first coaching job at Keppel High School in Alhambra. He coached at several high schools before taking a job as head cross country coach for the Santa Monica Track Club in 1995. He took the club to three straight state meets.
In 1999, Wolman was offered a job at Valley College. Wolman is also a full-time teacher at College of the Canyons were he teaches five French classes.
"We hate it in practice sometimes but we realize that we are lucky because coach gives us Division I training," said top runner Jordan Castellanos.
