Coaches

This will be Coach Howdy Atkinson’s Fifth season as Head Coach and 8th season at Yuba College. In his first seven years with the program, he had 28 athletes advance to the State Finals in over 50 events with 16 earning All-Americans. Coach Howdy also seen 14 records fall at Yuba. Coach Atkinson has been Coach of the year 3 out of the last 4 years. Coach Atkinson had 8 receive Athletes of the Year at Yuba College, including 7 Conference Athletes of the Year, one Regional Athlete of the Year, and a CCCAA Track and FIELD athlete of the YEAR. He also has had 2 State Champions in the Past 2 years, Darrell Kaanaana (Shot Put) and Hanah Smrt (Heptathlon).  

 Prior to Yuba College Coach Howdy coached four seasons as Throw’s and Multi’s Coach at Butte College.  In his four years with the program, he had had 25 athletes advance to the State Finals, 10 All-Americans, 3 State Champions and had five records fall (W-Shot Put, M-Shot Put, W-Hammer, W-Javelin and W-Heptathlon).  In his time at Butte, the women had set 25 new top 10 records and the men had set 13 new top 10 records. Howdy also spent seasons at CSU Chico (3 years), Chico high (2 years), Amador High (1 year) and Yuba City High (1 year). 

 As an athlete, he competed at CSU Chico where he was an All-American in the Shot Put taking 4th at Nationals in 2003; he was also ranked 17th in the discus and 25th in the hammer. He brings his experience as a former All-American, and the success of having a conference champion every year he has coached.  Coach Howdy would like to see the field events become the best in the state every year.

Howdy Atkinson is Married to Meagan Atkinson, she teaches in the Yuba City School district.