Chris Ash Hometown: Ottumwa, Iowa High School: Ottumwa Position: Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator Birthdate: 12/24/1973 Experience: Second Season Alma Mater: Drake, Iowa State

Coaching Experience

- Joined the Aztecs in January of 2007, and will serve as the team's defensive backs coach for the second year in a row. Added duties as SDSU's recruiting coordinator in 2008.

- San Diego State logged 16 interceptions his first year, seven more than its season total from 2006.

- Before coming to SDSU, Ash spent seven years at Iowa State, including the last five as defensive backs coach. Served as the team's recruiting coordinator in 2006 and was a defensive graduate assistant from 2000-01.

- 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.

- Ash's 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.

- Ash served as defensive coordinator at Drake for two seasons. The Bulldogs won the 1998 Pioneer Conference title and a year later, Drake ranked eighth nationally in I-AA in total defense with four defenders earning all-league honors.

- Also worked as a defensive assistant at Princeton (Spring 1998) and a graduate/volunteer assistant at Drake (1996-97).

Notable Players Coached By Ash
- JaMaine Billups, S (Iowa State), Third -team all-Big 12
- LaMarcus Hicks, CB (Iowa State), Detroit Lions, First-team all-Big 12
- Ellis Hobbs, CB (Iowa State), New England Patriots, First-team all-Big 12
- DeAndre Jackson, DB (Iowa State, Led-Big 12 in interceptions in 2005
- Steve Paris, S (Iowa State),Second-team all-Big 12

Playing Experience
-Two-year letterwinner as a safety at Drake.

Education
-Received his bachelor's degree in secondary education from Drake in 1996 and his master's of education from Iowa State in 2005.

The Chris Ash File

Birthdate
December 24, 1973

Hometown
Ottumwa, Iowa

High School
Ottumwa

Alma Mater
Drake, Iowa State

Family
Wife, Jessica, and children, Tanner and Jacey

Coaching Career

2007-08
San Diego State
Defensive Backs (2007-08)
Recruiting Coordinator (2008)

2000-06
Iowa State
Defensive Backs (2002-06)
Recruiting Coordinator (2006)
Graduate Assistant - Defense (2000-01)

1998-99
Drake
Defensive Coordinator

1998
Princeton
Defensive Assistant

1996-97
Drake
Graduate Assistant - Defense (1997)
Volunteer Assistant (1996)

Bowl Games As A Coach (5)
Iowa State
2005 Houston Bowl, 2004 Independence Bowl,
2002 Humanitarian Bowl, 2001 Independence
Bowl, 2000 Insight.com Bowl