UIC Athletics

On August 30, 2017, before being having the interim title removed prior to the start of the 2018-19 season, former Director of Athletics Garrett Klassy named Ashley Lucas the interim head coach of the UIC men's and women's cross country and track & field programs. 

The new 2021 cross country season saw unprecedented success with Lucas at the helm. Carlos Cabrera became the first men's individual title winner in UIC's history. He would later go on to be named the Horizon League Cross Country Men's Athlete of the Year, another first for the UIC men's program. On the women's side, Teresa Meiji was named to the Second Team All-League.

During the 2021 indoor track season, Isaiah Tyler was named the Men's Freshman of the Year, Fielding. 

In the 2020 season, which only saw the Flames compete in the indoor championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kayla Isom once again took the Horizon League crown in the 800m event.

The 2019 cross country season saw similar success, with Carlos Cabrera named to the All-League First Team, and Alex Bashqawi named to the men's All-Academic Team. Cabrera's 2019 season saw him break UIC's 8k record multiple times, including at the Horizon League Championship. Cabrera was named to the All-Horizon League First Team. 

In her first season of track and field, the Flames men's team finished with a Horizon League champion in Shaun Wollenweber, who won the triple jump event in both indoor and outdoor. Alex Bashqawi was awarded the Horizon League Outstanding Running Performer, while finishing as a Horizon League champion in the 1 mile event, and was a member of the winning distance medley. Bashqawi additionally was named Horizon League Scholar Athlete of the Season. On the women's side, Kayla Isom claimed the outdoor championship in the 800m event. Peyton Wade took home the title in high jump, setting a new Horizon League record. 

"We are extremely fortunate that Ashley has shown a willingness to lead our cross country and track and field teams moving forward," said Klassy. "Though I have only known her for a short time, her passion for the Flames is evident and her dedication to enhancing the experience of the student-athletes is unmistakable. I know that she will serve the teams well and represent UIC with a great deal of integrity and class at all times."
 
"I'm really excited to lead this program," said Lucas. "I was honored that Garrett [Klassy] and [senior associate athletic director] Rick [Harrigan] approached me to fill this position. This is definitely going to be a new role for me, but I am up for the challenge of being able to lead both the track and cross country teams.
 
"I am excited to bring these teams – the distance runners, the sprinters, the jumpers and everyone – together to create a very family-oriented program," said Lucas. "I'm thrilled to get started, the kids are excited and I'm ready to go."

She joined the Flames coaching staff in August 2015 and primarily coaches the women’s mid distance and distance. Since arriving she has led multiple athletes to personal best and many athletes have cracked UIC’s Top Ten list in multiple distances. In 2015, Lucas helped guide the women’s cross country team to a runner-up finish at the Horizon League Championships. She has coached five Horizon League All-Conference Cross Country Performers. On the track she helped coach the Horizon League Indoor Runner-Up Distance Medley relay in 2016.
 
Prior to UIC, Ashley coached at Northern Illinois University from 2013-2015. While at NIU she coached Kelsey Hildreth to five school records (cross country, indoor 3k (9:40.32), indoor 5k (16:39.83), outdoor 5k (16:47.78), 10k (34:21.42). Lucas coached Kelsey to a Mid-American Conference 10k Championships and an NCAA first round qualification. While at NIU Lucas also coached five athletes to top 10 performances in multiple distances.
 
Ashley is a 2012 graduate of Lewis University with a degree in Sport Management, minor in Athletic Coaching where she was a member and captain of the cross country and track team specializing in the 5k and 10k. She also received her Masters from Northern Illinois University in Kinesiology where she ran indoor/outdoor track for the Huskies in 2013.