Lending a Helping Hand

Assistant coaches prove invaluable to Cal Poly Rodeo

This year the Cal Poly Rodeo program is fortunate enough to have four assistant coaches to guide and coach the team members. This is the largest group of assistant coaches the team has had to date. 

The assistant coaches help run practices, serve as mentors and assist with other program needs, such as posting to social media and finding sponsorships. In addition to their assistant coaching responsibilities, they are also pursuing their master’s degrees in agricultural education.

Meet this year’s assistant coaching team members (listed alphabetically), who introduce themselves herein their own words.

MICAH BARNES

“My name is Micah Barnes, and I’m from Peterson, Iowa. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, where I was also a member of the basketball and rodeo teams.

“I’m excited to rodeo for a school with a program as distinguished as Cal Poly’s while expanding my education by pursuing a master’s in agricultural education. I look forward to the leadership skills and opportunities that come with an assistant coaching position, and I’m eager to see what the Cal Poly Mustangs can accomplish in the 2020-21 season!”

ERIN CLENDENEN

“I’m from the small town of Cottonwood, California. I am a first-generation college student who recently graduated from Cal Poly with my Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural communications with a double minor in law and society, and agribusiness. I also served as Cal Poly Rodeo president in 2019-20.

“I am excited to continue my education in pursuit of a master’s in agricultural education while continuing to play an active role in the Cal Poly Rodeo program. This program continuously and abundantly provides educational, vocational and athletic opportunities for all our members. It was — and is — easily the best part of my Cal Poly career.

“I am eager to welcome all our new members and adapt to whatever the 2020-21 season has to throw at us. In the wise words of Coach Ben Londo, ‘Let’s go be sharks this year!’”

LACI LOWRY

“My career goal is working in marketing or sales. Through this master’s program, I plan to gain more knowledge about marketing and sales and to obtain the leadership skills that will help me be an asset to any employer.

“I’m very excited to spend a fifth year at Cal Poly getting my master’s in agricultural education! In the past four years on the Cal Poly Rodeo team, the assistant coaches helped me be successful in and out of the arena. I hope to be able to do the same as an assistant coach for the 2020-21 team.

“I can’t wait until we are all back together and helping each other obtain our goals! I’m eager to see what the year holds for the Cal Poly Rodeo team.”

JANE WOOD

“I’m more than excited to continue my education at Cal Poly, regardless of everything that has so far happened in 2020. I hope to help make the 2020-21 season for the Cal Poly Rodeo team the best year yet!

“I will be earning a master’s degree in agricultural education with an emphasis on marketing while continuing to be the student sponsorship lead for the Cal Poly Rodeo team and Poly Royal Rodeo. I am super excited to meet the incoming freshmen and begin working with the other three assistant coaches to ensure that we give the team110% right from the get-go!”