Jordan Ashton, a Mount Pleasant native, will take the reins of the Tigers Men’s Basketball program, effective April 11th.
Ashton spent the 2021-22 academic year as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth. During this season, the team earned the most wins in over 50 years in program history and went undefeated with a perfect 13-0 record at home, the first time since the 1990-91 season. The team received their highest national ranking, fifth, in school history and earned the title of NSIC North Division Conference Champions. Ashton coached the NSIC North Division Player of the Year and two First-Team NSIC All-Conference players.
Ashton knows how to win, both as a coach and a player. He spent two years coaching at the University of South Dakota and Kirkwood Community College. While at South Dakota, Ashton contributed to a team that would win seven more wins than the previous season and a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference. While at Kirkwood Community College, he assisted the Eagles in winning the 2019 NJCAA National Championship, coaching the National Player of the Year and five All-Region Players.
As an athlete, Coach Ashton competed under Head Coach Ben Jacobson at the University of Northern Iowa. He led the team in minutes played, three-point percentage (44%), and was the third-leading scorer. Ashton spent one year at Iowa State University competing under Head Coach Steve Prohm, a year at Kirkwood Community College under Head Coach Bryan Petersen when the team won a national championship, and two years at Northwest Missouri State University under Head Coach Ben McCollum. Coach Ashton played high school basketball at Mount Pleasant Community High School, where he assisted in leading the team to become 3A State Champions in 2012. Ashton was named the Class 3A Player of the Year, 1st-Team All-State, and State Tournament MVP.
Before the University of Minnesota Duluth, Ashton was the assistant coach/offensive coordinator for the Iowa Wesleyan Men’s Basketball Team for the 2020-2021 season, the Tigers’ final season as an NCAA Division III member. The Tigers made an appearance in the semifinals of the SLIAC Conference Tournament and saw a First-Team All-Conference player in Jarryd Fernandes. Coach Ashton assisted in recruiting many of the talented players that IW saw on the court this past season.
“I am extremely excited, grateful, and honored to be returning to Iowa Wesleyan University as head men’s basketball coach. Having the opportunity to return to a program, university, and community that means so much to me is truly a blessing. I want to thank President Plunkett, Derek Zander, and the great individuals who support this program. These are exciting times at IW with a lot to look forward to, and I can’t wait to get started”.
