Meet the Coaches

Jacob Gleason
Head Coach

Jacob Gleason enters his first year as head cross country and track and field coach at Muskingum College.

Gleason arrives in New Concord after serving as assistant track & field coach at Ohio Northern University. During his three-year tenure at ONU, Gleason coached three NCAA Division III All-Americans, six NCAA Division III National Qualifiers, three Ohio Athletic Conference Individual Champions, 26 All-Ohio Athletic Conference performers, was a member of the 2006 Great Lakes Regional Coaching Staff of the Year and helped guide the 2008 Polar Bear men to the Ohio Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Team Championship.

While at Ohio Northern, Gleason also served as an assistant director for the 2008 NCAA Division III Indoor National Championship Meet, was a member of the OAC Coaches’ Committee Standards and was the conference’s Ranking Coordinator.

Prior to Ohio Northern, Gleason was associate head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach at Geneva College from 2002-2005. While with the Golden Tornadoes, he coached five NAIA Cross Country National Qualifiers, 13 NAIA Track & Field National Qualifiers, two American Mideast Conference Individual Champions and helped guide the 2003 women’s team to the Mideast Conference Championship.

Gleason, former cross country and track standout in college, received his bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in 2002 and his master’s degree from Geneva College in 2004.

His other duties at Muskingum will include serving as an instructor in the college’s Health and Physical Education department.

Ashley Shaffer
Assistant Coach

Ashley Shaffer enters her first year as assistant coach for the cross country and track & field programs at Muskingum College.

Shaffer was a stand-out track & field student-athlete at Ohio Wesleyan University. She garnered All-American honors in the Heptathlon in 2007 and was named the North Coast Athletic Conference's Indoor Track & Field Sprinter/Hurdler in 2006 and 2005.

While at Ohio Wesleyan, Shaffer assisted with the management of numerous track & field meets and conducted several internships in athletic training.

Shaffer graduated with a B.A. in physical education in 2008 from Ohio Wesleyan.

J.R. Fox
Assistant Coach

J.R. Fox, a former All-American in the decathlon at Muskingum, enters his second season as an assistant coach. Fox finished third in the 1990 Outdoor Championships and was a member of the record-breaking 4x400 relay team. Fox will work with pole vaulters and javelin throwers.