Jennifer Hardesty Last College: Ashland '96 Position: Assistant Coach Years at Miami: 10th Season

Jennifer Hardesty
Assistant Women's Cross Country/Track and Field Coach
Phone: 513-529-7099
Email Coach Hardesty

Jennifer Hardesty enters her 10th season as an assistant coach at Miami after beginning her coaching career at Springfield College (Mass.) in 1997-98. Hardesty's responsibilities include coordinating the fall track and field program, serving as the recruiting coordinator and coaching all the throwing events.

"Jen has established a throwing program that exhibits consistency and high-level achievement," head coach Rich Ceronie said. "Our throwers receive the daily instruction and advice they need in order to improve."

During Hardesty's nine-year stint, Miami's throwers have enjoyed sustained success, including her top pupil Lauren Collins. As one of the most decorated throwers in program history, Collins won Mid-American Conference titles in both 2003 and 2004 that included back-to-back championships in the hammer throw. The Miami record holder in both the shot put (49-1 1/2) and hammer throw (193-7), Collins also set two conference records in the hammer throw (193-7; 2003) and weight toss (63-0 1/4; 2004), with her hammer throw distance besting the previous MAC standard by nearly 20 feet. An academic all-American several times over, Collins also won two events at the 2003 Outdoor MAC Championships, accounted for 28 points and was named the MAC's Most Valuable Performer.

In the past three seasons, Hardesty's throwers have excelled in the conference and the region. During the 2007 outdoor campaign, Quekan Ibidunni scored at the MAC meet in two throwing events (discus and hammer throw) and regionally qualified in the hammer throw. The 2006 season saw Lindsey Arundel and Ibidunni score at the MAC Outdoor Championships, while in 2005, Ibidunni (discus) and Joanna Borawski (javelin) earned bids to the NCAA MidEast Regional. Additionally, Hardesty's throwers have reset four of the six school throwing records in her tenure.

"Jen has been able to take throwers of all ability levels and get them to perform at a much higher level," Ceronie said. "Our throwing program is in the best shape ever."

A seven-time all-Ohio high school athlete, Hardesty went on to earn All-America honors at Ashland University, where she qualified for the NCAA Championships in all four throwing events (javelin, hammer, shot put and discus). She earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education at Ashland and has completed part of the requirements for a master's degree in education.

Hardesty resides in Hamilton with her husband, Dan, who is a network engineer. The couple have one child, Sydney Grace (4).