When looking at the trajectory of a successful collegiate athletic program, the turning point can almost always be traced back to a single cultural shift. For the Long Beach State cross country and distance track programs, that shift arrived in the fall of 2012 with the hiring of Assistant Coach Patrick Wales-Dinan.

Now in his third year at The Beach, Wales-Dinan has done more than just fill out a coaching roster—he has completely rewritten the expectations for distance running at LBSU, guiding student-athletes to historic heights on both the conference and national stages.

A Culture of Excellence and Record-Breaking Results
Before Wales-Dinan's arrival, the modern era of Beach distance running had yet to truly crack the elite national conversation. Under his mentorship, that glass ceiling hasn't just been cracked; it has been shattered.

In a short tenure, Wales-Dinan has coached LBSU athletes to an astonishing 32 top-10 school performances and 7 school records. His training philosophy has proven that student-athletes can come to Long Beach State and compete against the absolute best in the NCAA.

His impact is perfectly illustrated by the breakthrough performances of individual standout athletes:

Chris Low (800m): Under Wales-Dinan’s guidance, Low earned First-Team All-American honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, finishing 7th in the nation. He also captured a Big West conference title and smashed the 800m school record with a blistering time of 1:47.52.

Chris Enriquez (Distance): Enriquez became the first 49er in the modern era (since 1980) to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, placing 10th at the grueling NCAA West Regional. On the track, Enriquez broke a 36-year-old school record in the 5,000m (14:07.30) and reached the NCAA Finals in the 10,000m.

Low and Enriquez didn't just stop at collegiate success; they both qualified for the USATF National Championships, earning spots on the prestigious NACAC U-23 National Team to represent the United States.

Developing Well-Rounded Student-Athletes
What truly sets Wales-Dinan apart as a mentor is his unwavering commitment to the "student" half of student-athlete. His track record of academic excellence stretches across his career, having coached over 45 USTFCCCA All-Academic individuals during his time at Duke, Williams College, and Long Beach State.

Under his watch, the women's cross country team earned USTFCCCA All-Academic recognition, proving that the discipline he instills on the track carries over perfectly into the classroom.

A Proven Pedigree
The success at Long Beach State is no fluke. Wales-Dinan arrived with an elite coaching pedigree:

At Duke University: He helped guide the Blue Devils to an NCAA individual championship berth, tutored three NCAA finalists, and helped claim an ACC indoor title in the 5,000m.

At Williams College: He coached 10 All-Americans and a dual NCAA Division III National Champion (Jennifer Gossels in the 5,000m and 10,000m). He also made history by becoming the first coach in D-III history to qualify four national runners in the women's 10,000m.

The Future of The Beach
From guiding former student-athletes like Rosa Del Toro and Gabe Hilbert into the professional running ranks to consistently lifting the men's and women's squads up the Big West standings, Patrick Wales-Dinan has firmly established Long Beach State as a destination for serious distance runners.

With a coaching philosophy rooted in technical precision, academic excellence, and belief, Coach Wales-Dinan continues to ensure that the future of Beach Track and Field remains incredibly bright.