STORRS, Conn. – UConn Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan has announced the addition of Connor Mahoney-Ashberry to the coaching staff, subject to successful completion of the university employee onboarding process. Coach Ashberry will join the Huskies as the new assistant coach and will coach the cross country program as well as the middle and long distance runners during the track and field season. Coach Ashberry will also be the program’s recruiting coordinator and will be instrumental in recruiting the future Huskies in all event areas.
Coach Ashberry comes to the Huskies after spending the last year as an assistant track and field coach at Purdue University. During his time at Purdue University, Coach Ashberry coached the cross country teams and distance runners. He also took a lead role in recruiting for all event divisions of the program. Coach Ashberry coached two first round NCAA qualifiers and several All-BIG Ten athletes in four different distance events. He also coached members of the USATF PARA World Championship team.
Prior to Purdue, Coach Ashberry spent six years at the University of Alabama where he served as a volunteer assistant track and field coach. At Alabama, he helped direct, supervise, and coordinate training and practice sessions for distance runners. While at Alabama, Coach Ashberry was actively involved in the program, winning the 2017-2018 USTFCCCA John McDonnell Program of the Year Award, as well as the SEC Indoor Conference Championship (2018) and SEC Cross Country Conference Championship (2022). While at Alabama, Coach Ashberry coached 32 NCAA Division I All-Americans, multiple NCAA First Round Qualifiers, and 11 NCAA Final Round Qualifiers.
Coach Ashberry began his coaching career in 2013 at his alma mater, Campbell University, where he assisted with various varsity events including hosting the NCISAA State Championships and the Campbell University Cross Country Invitational. He was a key part of the coaching staff of the Men’s Big South Cross Country Champion team in 2015.
Coach Ashberry received his Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Campbell University.
From Director Beth Alford-Sullivan:
“I am so excited to have Coach Ashberry join us at UConn. His years of coaching experience have prepared him to step in and help our UConn teams continue to win championships. Connor will bring a lot of momentum to recruiting future Huskies in all event areas and I am excited to have him join me in training the middle and long distance runners. Connor brings a real passion for coaching, recruiting, great team culture and winning championships!!”
From Coach Mahoney-Ashberry:
“I want to thank Beth Alford-Sullivan, Catherine Zuppani and David Benedict for this opportunity at the University of Connecticut. My family and I are very excited to join the UConn Track and Field family. I look forward to working with the student-athletes and staff to continue to build on the great success that UConn Track and Field and Cross-Country has experienced over the past few years. Go Huskies.”
