U-M Strength and Conditioning Coach Jackson Receives National Award
1/11/2019 5:30:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse, Volleyball, Water Polo, Strength & Conditioning
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- University of Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ashley Jackson was honored as the College Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year on Friday (Jan. 11) at the NCSCA Coaches Conference.
Jackson joined the University of Michigan strength and conditioning staff as an intern for the 2012-13 season and was hired on full time in the fall of 2013. She currently works with the women's lacrosse and water polo teams, while also assisting with volleyball. Her other duties include coordinating the Olympic sports strength and conditioning internship program.
The U-M water polo team has won three straight CWPA Championships and reached the NCAA semifinals in 2016. Jackson helped the program earn its first ACWPC first team All-American in 2016 as Ali Thomason was also crowned a NSCA strength and conditioning All-American the same season.
Jackson (center) receives her award.
"Ashley is the master of her craft," said water polo head coach Dr. Marcelo Leonardi. "She is the ultimate professional when it comes to technical proficiencies in the world of strength and conditioning. She has a great relationship with our team and has transformed them over the last five years. It goes beyond them just being stronger. She has specialized individual programs for each individual to reach their own potential. She is a tremendous asset to our program and the university."
Jackson has been an integral part of the women's lacrosse program since it became a varsity sport at Michigan in 2014. Last season, with the help of Jackson's strength and conditioning program, U-M earned its first win over a ranked opponent and etched its name in the single-game record book 17 times.
"Ashley plays a vital role in our program, and is instrumental in ensuring our athletes are in prime condition to compete," said women's lacrosse head coach Hannah Nielsen. "She serves as an exceptional role model to our young female athletes. As a coach, I feel fortunate to have such a hard-working, detail-oriented and passionate strength coach working with our players, and with me, each day."
Prior to joining the Michigan staff, Jackson was a graduate assistant at Nova Southeastern University during 2011-12. She worked from 2010-11 as a Sports Performance Coach at Xcel Performance in Friendswood, Texas, and completed an internship in 2009-10 at the University of Houston.
Jackson began college at Hardin Simmons University, where she was a goalkeeper on the women's soccer team. Following a transfer, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2009 from Texas A&;M University, where she studied exercise physiology. In 2012, she earned a Master of Science in athletic administration from Nova Southeastern University.
Over her career, Jackson has been certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) as a Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) and USA Weightlifting (USAW) as a Level 2 Advanced Sports Performance Coach.
