Legendary Cal Poly cross country and track & field coach Mark Conover passed away in the April of 2022 at the age of 61 after a fierce battle with cancer. The Cal Poly Director of Track & Field and Cross Country had been a staple of the San Luis Obispo community since 1989 and was the leader of the Mustangs running programs for 25 seasons, moving from cross country head coach to director of track & field and cross country in 2009.
Conover was a 21-time Big West Coach of the Year in his time at the helm of the program, mentoring 14 All-Americans since 2003 and 70 individual Big West champions during his career. Also keeping academic success a priority of his program, Conover’s squads featured 25 USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams and 43 individuals UCTFCCCA All-Academic honorees since 2007.
A decorated athlete as a distance runner, Conover was a nine-time All-American at Humboldt State (now Cal Poly Humboldt) and a two-time NCAA Division II Champion winning both the 10,000 meters and cross country individual titles in 1981.
In 1988, Conover was the U.S. Olympic Trials champion in the marathon after an unexpected strategic victory and went on to run at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He competed professionally from 1984-96 and was a four-time Olympic Trials qualifier.
His time as a professional runner was cut short in 1993 by a two-year battle with Hodgkin’s disease when he transitioned to coaching at Cal Poly shortly after.
A graduate of Miramonte High School in Orinda, Calif., Conover earned his bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Planning and Interpretation at Humboldt State in 1983 and his master’s degree from Cal Poly in City and Regional Planning in 1989. Prior to coaching the Mustangs, Conover was an assistant planner with San Luis Obispo County from 1989-92 and editor of The Runner’s Schedule magazine from 1992-95.
"Cherish life. Honor those who have fighting or who have fought this insidious disease. Especially honor those who have battled and succumbed to it. Keep moving and do what you love. And love some more." - Mark Conover
Cal Poly won both the men's and women's team titles at the
2022 Big West Cross Country Championships. Many on the team were coached and/or recruited by Conover. Mustang senior Jake Ritter won the individual crown and thanked his coach of four years afterwards.