Week four of the Allegheny Coaches' Spotlight features head women's lacrosse coach Ashley Hughes, and head men's and women's track and field and cross country coach
Brent Wilkerson.
A 2008 Allegheny graduate, Ashley returned to her alma mater last August after being hired as the Gators' head women's lacrosse coach. A two-sport standout during her time as an athlete at Allegheny, Hughes was an All-North Coast Athletic Conference performer in both soccer and lacrosse, and currently ranks in the top-five in lacrosse program history in goals, assists, and points. After serving as an assistant coach at Hartwick and Norwich, she was hired as assistant coach at Division II St. Michael's in Vermont, and, in 2013, led the Purple Knights to their highest win total in five seasons. She then made the move back to Allegheny, and led the Gators to a historic season, as the squad opened the year on a 10-game winning streak, before eventually finishing 15-2 and advancing to the NCAC semifinals.
What is your fondest memory as a student-athlete?
Watching my teammate Jensen Paterson snag the draw and march down the field to score 14 seconds into our game against Ohio Wesleyan during my senior season, which we eventually went on to win 13-5. After many years of battling OWU in both soccer and lacrosse, it was a great way to finally get a solid win against them .
What is your fondest memory from your coaching career?
The entire 2014 season was special, but watching our comeback against Wooster after being down by six at halftime is one of those moments you'll never forget.
What brought you back to Allegheny?
To have the chance to return to a place I call home, and to fight for that first-ever NCAC lacrosse championship.
If you could coach another sport for one day, what would it be, and why?
Soccer with Coach Webber, in the freezing cold, wearing shorts and a beanie. He always looks so hardcore, and I would love the chance to stand next to a Coach of the Year.
Do you have any personal pre-game routines?
I always wear a pair of crazy socks my aunt buys me from Walmart and a "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose" shirt under my polo. Finally, I have to brush my teeth.
What's your favorite road trip movie?
You can't go wrong with Honey, or seasons of Friday Night Lights.
What's your least favorite movie you've had to watch on a bus trip?
Any horror movie with that Coach Panzetta used to make us watch on soccer trips around Halloween when we traveled with the men's team.
Favorite band/musical artists?
Way too many to name!
Do you have a pump-up pregame song?
I have to think back to the college days when we always used to listen to "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" by NSYNC.
Favorite television show?
Friday Night Lights, Scandal, and anything on Bravo.
Favorite pro sports team?
Steelers Nation baby!
Favorite athlete (either current or historical)?
#86 for the black and gold
Favorite book?
I'm a Nicholas Sparks junkie.
Dream vacation?
Anywhere with a beach and tiki hut on the water.
You can choose three dinner guests – who would they be?
Justin Timberlake, Bill Cowher, and Reese Witherspoon.
You can choose one historical sports event to go back in time and attend… what would it be?
The United States' women's run in the 1999 World Cup.
Top item on your bucket list?
Get an RV, and just travel, travel, travel.
Describe Allegheny in three words or less
Green Gator forever.
Who has been your biggest influence during your coaching career?
All of my college coaches have influenced me in a different way. I was very fortunate to have such a great student-athlete experience at Allegheny.
What's the top piece of advice you'd give to an incoming freshman student-athlete?
Be yourself. Nobody can take that away from you.
What's the top piece of advice you'd give to someone planning a career in coaching?
Always love what you do.
Brent Wilkerson recently completed his fourth season as the Allegheny head men's and women's track and field and cross country coach. Over his past four years, he has led the Gator men's cross country team to a pair of North Coast Athletic Conference championships, with the team qualifying for the NCAA championship each year. He has presided over Allegheny's most recent NCAA National Championship, as the men's distance medley relay team won gold at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships, while his athletes have won a total of nine All-America honors, with 2012 grad Lauren Butler and 2014 grad Bobby Over each earning multiple All-America laurels. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Wilkerson was a four-year track and field standout at Wilmington College, where he earned a total of 15 All-Ohio Athletic Conference accolades and a pair of All-America nods, anchoring the Quakers' 4x400 relay.
What is your fondest memory as a student-athlete?
Breaking Wilmington's record at the National Championship, while earning my first All-America honor.
What is your fondest memory so far during your coaching career?
In my first year, when we won the NCAA distance medley championship with the team of Mike Vlah, Taylor Throckmorton, Andrew Mahone, and Tony Dipre.
What brought you to Allegheny?
Bill Ross' reputation as a winner, and his teams' enthusiasm for competition. I knew he had the environment I wanted to learn from and achieve.
If you could coach another sport for one day, what would it be?
Volleyball! I love the fast pace and athleticism of the players. It is also a sport in which you can be more hands-on during matches by calling plays and substitutions. It would be drastically difference from cross country and track and field.
Do you have any pre-meet routines?
Not anymore. However, as an athlete, I used to be very superstitious. Even now, I have the tendency to wear the same thing to meets consecutively if we are competing well as a team.
Favorite road trip movie?
Moneyball. Our men's team would definitely say Semi-Pro.
Least favorite road trip movie?
Semi-Pro. Our men's team loves it because our women's team hates it.
Favorite band/music artist?
Too many to choose! On my playlist right now is a lot of Drake, Childish Gambino, and Common.
What would be your pump-up pre-competition song?
"The Man" by Aloe Blacc.
Favorite television show?
Game of Thrones.
Favorite professional sports team?
The Cincinnati Reds and Bengals.
Favorite athlete?
Jackie Joyner-Kersee for the ladies, and Michael Johnson for the men. The GOAT!
Favorite book?
"The Alchemist" by Pauolo Coelho.
Dream vacation?
Backpacking through Europe.
You can choose three dinner guests- who would they be?
Abraham Lincoln, Neal DeGrasse Tyson, and Jesse Owens.
You can choose one historical sporting event to go back in time and attend – what would it be?
Watching Sir Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile for the first time in human history.
Top item on your bucket list?
I'm not a list guy. My life rocks already!
Describe Allegheny in three words or less?
Traditions still exist.
Who has been your biggest influence during your coaching career?
Bill Ross.
What is the top piece of advice you would give to an incoming freshman student-athlete?
Don't involve yourself in too much. Find the two or three things that you can invest your passion in first. Enjoy the trivial things once you set a good base.
What is the top piece of advice you'd give to someone planning to enter the coaching field?
Change some of what you do every season. It will open the doors to change, and keep things fresh. Burnout is very easy in our profession.
