Lehigh University Athletics
Former Lehigh standout Brooke Astor named assistant coach
10/23/2014 2:01:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh track and field head coach Matt Utesch announced the addition of Brooke Astor to the Mountain Hawk staff Thursday. Astor will join the staff as a jumps and multi-events coach for the 2014-15 season after a standout career as a Mountain Hawk.
"Brooke brings more experience than you will find in most any first-year hire," said Utesch. "She has excellent knowledge that covers a great number of events. She has been a rock star in our own Leadership Academy, so couple that with her maturity level, work ethic and knowledge of the program and the result is the same excellence we saw from her as an athlete. We were very fortunate to have retained her."
Astor, a 2014 Lehigh graduate, was the unquestioned leader of the women's track and field program and completed one of the most decorated careers of any Lehigh student-athlete. The Milltown, N.J. native won seven Patriot League titles in indoor and outdoor track and field and was twice named the Patriot League Indoor Field Athlete of the Meet at the league championship meet. She owns five school records and led Lehigh to a second-place finish at the 2014 indoor and outdoor championship meets, the highest finishes in program history.
Achieving success beyond the Patriot League as well, Astor won the 2014 ECAC Pentathlon in March as she competed against the best Division I athletes from the northeast. She set a new school record in the heptathlon with an impressive 5,324 points competing against Olympians and professional athletes at the prestigious Mt. SAC relays in Walnut, Calif. in April. Astor also traveled to Eugene, Ore. to coach freshman standout Courtney Avery at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships.
In addition to her strong performances on the track, Astor was a two-time co-captain who initiated and followed through on goal setting session at key points during the season. She is a graduate of every phase of Lehigh's Leadership Academy and a two-year member of the Student-Athlete Council. She exemplified leadership and character by working hard to establish and maintain effective relationships with all teammates and inspire others to maximize their own performances. She earned the athletic department's Graduating Female Athlete of the Year award, Mary O'Hurley Leadership award and Distinguished Achievement award at the end-of-year convocation ceremony in April in addition to the University's Student Life Leadership award. Astor was also the recipient of the Patriot League's Leadership and Character Award, given to the one female Patriot League athlete who best represents excellence and leadership while participating in Patriot League athletics.
"I look forward to starting a new stage in my track and field as a coach," said Astor. "It is refreshing to be back with the team because not only am I coaching them, but I am training with them as well, so it is like some things haven't changed. The team has had such a big impact on me throughout my four years at Lehigh so it is great to be back with them this year and I am looking forward for what the year has in store for us."
"Brooke brings more experience than you will find in most any first-year hire," said Utesch. "She has excellent knowledge that covers a great number of events. She has been a rock star in our own Leadership Academy, so couple that with her maturity level, work ethic and knowledge of the program and the result is the same excellence we saw from her as an athlete. We were very fortunate to have retained her."
Astor, a 2014 Lehigh graduate, was the unquestioned leader of the women's track and field program and completed one of the most decorated careers of any Lehigh student-athlete. The Milltown, N.J. native won seven Patriot League titles in indoor and outdoor track and field and was twice named the Patriot League Indoor Field Athlete of the Meet at the league championship meet. She owns five school records and led Lehigh to a second-place finish at the 2014 indoor and outdoor championship meets, the highest finishes in program history.
Achieving success beyond the Patriot League as well, Astor won the 2014 ECAC Pentathlon in March as she competed against the best Division I athletes from the northeast. She set a new school record in the heptathlon with an impressive 5,324 points competing against Olympians and professional athletes at the prestigious Mt. SAC relays in Walnut, Calif. in April. Astor also traveled to Eugene, Ore. to coach freshman standout Courtney Avery at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships.
In addition to her strong performances on the track, Astor was a two-time co-captain who initiated and followed through on goal setting session at key points during the season. She is a graduate of every phase of Lehigh's Leadership Academy and a two-year member of the Student-Athlete Council. She exemplified leadership and character by working hard to establish and maintain effective relationships with all teammates and inspire others to maximize their own performances. She earned the athletic department's Graduating Female Athlete of the Year award, Mary O'Hurley Leadership award and Distinguished Achievement award at the end-of-year convocation ceremony in April in addition to the University's Student Life Leadership award. Astor was also the recipient of the Patriot League's Leadership and Character Award, given to the one female Patriot League athlete who best represents excellence and leadership while participating in Patriot League athletics.
"I look forward to starting a new stage in my track and field as a coach," said Astor. "It is refreshing to be back with the team because not only am I coaching them, but I am training with them as well, so it is like some things haven't changed. The team has had such a big impact on me throughout my four years at Lehigh so it is great to be back with them this year and I am looking forward for what the year has in store for us."
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
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