Head Coach
Bruce Hunt has been the rodeo head coach at West Hills College since 1982. A member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since 1972, Hunt has brought his expertise and rodeo knowledge to the over 400 rodeo athletes who have been part of the West Hills rodeo team. Many have gone on to become National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association champions and some have been national finalists in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Under Coach Hunt, West Hills rodeo teams have won 10 regional championships, have been runners-up to the national champions twice, ranked third in the nation twice, and placed fourth three times. West Hills has been the most dominating force in the West Coast Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association for the last two decades, making Coach Hunt the most successful rodeo coach in the West Coast Region in recent years.
Coach Hunt is a product of college rodeo and stresses the importance of education. Competing for Utah State University and later for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA, Coach Hunt qualified for the College National Finals four years and was the West Coast calf roping champion in 1974. He graduated from Cal Poly with an undergraduate degree in journalism and a master’s degree in agriculture.After college, Hunt had a successful career in professional rodeo in Canada, where he was raised, qualifying for the Canadian National Finals Rodeo.
Coalinga is home for Coach Hunt and his family. Bruce’s wife, Liz, is a former California High School state all-around champion and both of their daughters have attended and competed for West Hills College Rodeo Team.
Assistant Coach
Teddy Athan returns to West Hills not as member of the Rodeo Team but as the assistant coach. During his time at West Hills Coach Athan qualified for four College National Finals Rodeos as well as being the 2008 West Coast Bareback Riding Champion.
A member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Teddy has also qualified for California Circuit Finals three times and continues to compete on a regular basis.
Athan grew up and was raised in Livermore.