Jan. 17, 2007
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State head coach Chuck Long announced Wednesday the hiring of Chris Ash as the defensive backs coach at SDSU. Ash comes from Iowa State where he held the same title for the last four seasons and worked on the Cyclones staff since 2000. He also served as recruiting coordinator this past season in Ames.
"I am very excited to add Chris to our staff," Long said. "He has great experience coaching the secondary. I am familiar with him from my days in the Big 12 Conference and his Iowa State units were always one of the most solid defenses we went against. He is an excellent recruiter and a great addition to our Aztec family."
Ash helped lead Iowa State to one of the more dramatic turnarounds this decade. The Cyclones played in five bowl games in a six-year stretch this decade after failing to make a bowl game the previous 21 seasons.
His secondary units were regularly ranked among the best nationally. In 2005, the Cyclone defense ranked seventh nationally with 35 turnovers and led the Big 12 Conference with 22 interceptions. That squad set the school record for fewest rushing yards allowed (102.7) and the Cyclones were 20th nationally in defensive passing efficiency.
In 2004, the Iowa State defense was second in the league with 17 picks and in 2001 the Cyclones were fourth nationally in pass defense.
Prior to his time in Ames, Ash served as defensive coordinator at Drake for two seasons. He also worked as a defensive assistant at Princeton (1998) and a graduate assistant at Drake (1997).
A native of Ottumwa, Iowa, Ash received is bachelor's degree from Drake in 1996 and his master's from Iowa State in 2005. He and his wife, Jessica, have two children.