FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Coconino Community College Athletics has announced the addition of two new Assistant Coaches to its Cross Country and Track & Field programs: Ali Upshaw and Krissy Gear. Both will work across the men’s and women’s programs, bringing fresh energy and high-level running experience to the Comets as the team heads into its 2026 fall season.
“I couldn’t be more excited to add Ali and Krissy to our staff,” said Head Coach Craig Hunt. “They both bring a level of talent and experience that our athletes don’t often get access to at this level. Ali’s ties to this community and Krissy’s background racing at the highest levels of the sport are going to make an immediate impact on our runners, and I’m looking forward to what our coaching staff can build together this season.”
Ali Upshaw Joins the Comets
Upshaw joins CCC fresh off her collegiate career at Northern Arizona University, where she established herself as one of the top distance runners in program history. She currently holds the Big Sky Conference record in the 10,000 meters, a mark that speaks to the caliber of training and competition she brings into her first collegiate coaching role.
Upshaw’s ties to the region run deeper than her time at NAU. She originally attended Saint Michael’s Indian School, giving her a direct connection to Northern Arizona and Coconino County. Being a local gives her a unique and personal understanding of the athletes and communities CCC serves and adds an important perspective to the coaching staff as the program continues to build relationships throughout the region.
As an assistant coach, Upshaw will work directly with both the men’s and women’s rosters, supporting training design, race-day logistics, and the day-to-day development that turns strong preseason work into results on the course and the track.
Krissy Gear Brings Professional Racing Pedigree
Joining Upshaw on staff is Krissy Gear, a professional distance runner sponsored by Hoka. Gear’s collegiate career began at Furman University before she transferred to the University of Arkansas. Across her collegiate career, Gear earned eight NCAA All-America honors, along with an NCAA indoor national championship as part of Arkansas’ distance medley relay.
After turning professional, Gear trained with NAZ Elite, the Flagstaff-based professional running team, from 2022-2024. She won the 2023 USATF Outdoor National Championships in the 3,000m steeplechase in a time of 9:12.81 and later claimed the national title at the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships in 2025. Gear currently lives and trains in Flagstaff on many of the same trails and at the same altitude that CCC’s own athletes train on today, giving her firsthand, practical insight into the demands of running in Flagstaff.
Gear will also assist across both the men’s and women’s Cross Country and Track & Field programs, working alongside Upshaw and the rest of the coaching staff to build out training plans and mentor athletes through the grind of a full collegiate season.
Building Toward the Fall
Upshaw and Gear step into the program at a pivotal moment, as the Comets prepare for a fall slate that carries the team from Buffalo Park to Huntsville and the NJCAA National Championships. Alongside Hunt and McCabe, both new coaches will be on hand from day one to help shape the training, racing, and culture of a program on the rise.
CCC Athletics welcomes Ali Upshaw and Krissy Gear to the Comet family!
