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, pending the successful completion of the university employee onboarding process. Coach Ashberry will join the Huskies as the team's new assistant coach, assisting in coaching the cross country program and the middle distance and distance runners during the track and field seasons. Coach Ashberry will also be the program's recruiting coordinator, where he will be instrumental in the recruitment of the future Huskies in all event areas.

Coach Ashberry joins the Huskies after spending the last year as an assistant track and field and cross country coach at Purdue University. While at Purdue, Coach Ashberry coached the cross country teams and distance runners. He also took on a leading role in recruiting for all event areas for the program. Coach Ashberry coached two NCAA First Round qualifiers, and multiple All-BIG Ten athletes across four different distance events. He also coached USATF PARA World Championship team members.

Prior to his time at Purdue, Coach Ashberry spent six years at the University of Alabama, where he was a volunteer assistant track and field and cross country coach. At Alabama, he assisted with leading, monitoring, and coordinating training and practice sessions for distance men and women. While at Alabama, Coach Ashberry was an active part in the program winning the USTFCCCA John McDonnell Program of the Year Award in 2017-2018, as well as the SEC Indoor Conference Championship (2018) and SEC Cross Country Conference Championship (2022). In his time 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 at his alma mater of Campbell University in 2013, where he assisted in various university events, including the hosting of the NCISAA State Championships and Campbell University Cross Country Invitational. He was a key part of the Men's Big South Cross Country Champion team coaching staff in 2015. 

Coach Ashberry received his Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management at Campbell University. 

From Director Beth Alford-Sullivan:

"I am thrilled to have Coach Ashberry join us here at UConn.  His years of experience in the coaching profession have prepared him to step in and help our UConn teams continue to win championships.  Connor will add a lot of momentum to the recruitment of future Huskies in all of the event areas, and I am excited to have him work alongside me in coaching the middle distance and distance runners.   Connor brings a true sense of passion for coaching, recruiting, great team culture, and for winning championships!!"

From Coach Mahoney-Ashberry: 

"I want to thank Beth Alford-Sullivan, Catherine Zuppani & David Benedict for this opportunity at the University of Connecticut.  My family and I are very excited to be joining the UConn Track and Field family.  I look forward to working with the student athletes & staff to continue to build on the great success that UConn Track and Field and Cross-Country has experienced the past few years.  Go Huskies."