There was a distinct sense that Diane Urban–CSU East Bay Alumni, class of ‘85–had come full circle at the Contra Costa Horseman’s Association horse competition July 23.

Urban, who had attended what was then CSU Hayward, largely because she wanted to remain close to her beloved horses, was in her element.

Urban and her two daughters Christine “Cobbie” Jones, 22, and Alexandra, 16, entered their horse Untouchable Sensation into the Horseman’s Association competition, the first time Urban had entered a horse show in over two years.

“I sold the horse that I’d been trying to sell the day they finished my background check at Hayward,” said Urban, “and then we had this horseshow scheduled for this weekend and its not been an easy couple of years, but now it just feels like it’s exactly where it’s supposed to be.”

That background check is the precursor to Urban’s tenure as Hayward’s new Chief of Police, beginning August 8.

She will be the first woman to ever hold the position, marking the next step in a career that began in earnest at CSUEB when she switched majors from business to criminal justice.

Urban made the decision to attend the university because she could keep her horses stabled in Castro Valley near Crow Canyon Road. Her passion for her horses was as evident then as it remains to this day.

Urban’s time at CSUEB is one that went down in the university’s sports lore.  She was a three-time NCAA Division II national champion in the discus throw, taking the title her freshman, junior, and senior seasons.

She credits much of her success to the track and field coaching staff of the era, especially Dr. Herman Brown–who recruited her to the university and helped her overcome the mental hurdle that had often held her back in high school.

“I don’t think I’d been at Cal State two months when [Dr. Brown] said we’re gonna fix your mind, you’re gonna go see Betty [Wentz],” said Urban, recalling her visits to the sports psychiatrist. “She taught me about visualization and for me that was life changing. I went from being inconsistent to being a force to be reckoned with my freshmen year.”

That visualization process became critical to Urban’s success both on and off the track–a lesson she teaches her children.

Her oldest daughter, Christine–who also rides horses and ran track at UCLA–said that her mom taught her how to visualize and focus before her event.

As Urban watched over her daughters at the showing, her happiness was obvious.

“It’s a connection with the animal, it brings a peace you can almost feel like a whoosh of calm come over you,” said Urban.  “It’s so opposite of my deputy chief calling me to say we have a triple shooting with three Norteño gang members or we had an accidental baby death.  [Riding is] so happy and peaceful and opposite of the day to day stress that I deal with that I really can’t imagine being without it.”

After 26 years, the woman who came to CSUEB so she could remain close to her horses is now the new Chief of Police and she keeps her horses in tow.