UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State track and field head coach John Gondak has announced the hiring of Michael Ashton, who will coach pole vault and men’s high jump.
“We are very excited to have Coach Mike join the staff. He is an exciting addition to the staff who will work with our men’s and women’s vaulters along with our men’s high jump athletes. He is going to bring a great energy to that group, and I look forward to seeing him get to work.”
Ashton comes to Penn State after spending two years at Army West Point, coaching their pole vault, high jump, and multis. While at West Point, Ashton coached six Patriot league champions in the pole vault and high jump for both men’s and women’s squads. He also mentored two NCAA East Region qualifiers in high jump and pole vault.
A 2015 graduate of Utah Valley University (UVU), Ashton accepted a position at his alma mater in 2021 as the pole vault, high Jump, and multis coach. While at UVU he coached four NCAA West qualifiers, three men’s high jump and one men’s pole vault. During his time there, several of his student-athletes broke program records in the pole vault and high jump.
Prior to coaching at UVU, Ashton began his coaching career in the high school ranks, first at Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, Utah and then Cyprus in Magna, Utah. He began at Judge Memorial Catholic after receiving his bachelor’s degree in public relations from UVU.
Ashton was offered a walk-on spot at UVU and decided to take the opportunity, beginning his freshman year in 2009. While at UVU, he competed in the pole vault, high jump, heptathlon, and decathlon. Ashton won three individual conference championships, two in the pole vault and one in the high jump. As a senior, he set the UVU outdoor pole vault record.
Coach Michael Ashton was born in San Jose, CA but grew up in Vancouver, WA. Coach Mike began participating in Track and Field in elementary school by the time he was a freshman in high school he had decided to make pole vault his primary event going forward.
Outside of track, Coach Mike loves golfing and running around with his son.