Valerie Cowan Townsend was a top multi-sport athlete at MHS, before receiving a full scholarship at Cal State University Bakersfield. At CSUB, her team won a D-II National Championship. Val began coaching in 1990 and since 2000 has served as head coach & professor of physical education at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in Claremont.

Val was inducted into the 3rd class of the Monache Athletic Hall of Fame on 4/13/19.