“We are really excited to have Jana Ashley become a part of the Clarion University family,” Clarion Athletic Director Dave Katis said. “We believe she is a great fit for our program, our department, the university and the Clarion community. Her experiences as a Division II player and as an assistant coach at the Division I level are things the search committee and I really liked. She is ready to take the next step as a head coach, and we believe she is the perfect coach to lead a new era of Golden Eagles women’s basketball.”

Ashley comes to Clarion after spending a year at Iona where she helped the Gales go 26-6 last season, win the regular season MAAC Championship and earn a berth in the Women’s NIT Tournament. Iona had an 18-game regular-season win streak during the season, and Ashley assisted in the development of two all-conference players including the MAAC Player of the Year, Damika Martinez.

In 11 years as a Division I assistant (five at Radford, five at George Mason and one at Iona), Ashley helped coach three 20-win teams including two teams that earned Women’s NIT postseason berths.

“I’d like to thank Athletic Director Dave Katis for the opportunity to lead the Clarion University women’s basketball program,” Ashley said. “It’s truly a privilege to be involved in college athletics, and I am lucky to have someone like Mr. Katis to guide me as I begin my head-coaching career. I’d also like to thank Associate Athletic Director Wendy Snodgrass and members of the search committee for their time and effort and most importantly for showing me why Clarion is such a tremendous place to live and work. I’m excited to become part of the Clarion family, and I can’t wait to get started. I fell in love with the people at Clarion during the interview process, and I look forward to building relationships on campus and in the community.”

Ashley takes over a Clarion team that just missed going to the PSAC playoffs last year finishing 11-15 overall and 5-11 in the PSAC West under long-time mentor Margaret “Gie” Parsons, who announced her retirement following the season, her 25th at Clarion. The Golden Eagles return three starters from last year including second-team Daktronics All-Atlantic Region and two-time first-team PSAC West selection Hannah Heeter (14.3 ppg, PSAC-leading 12.3 rpg). Also back from last year’s starting lineup are junior point guard Tania Holmes (8.1 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.1 rpg, 2.1 spg) and junior forward/guard Jasmine Boyd (6.6, 4.9 rpg).

“We have a solid foundation of very talented upperclassmen players and a lot of potential on our young roster,” Ashley said. “The PSAC is one of the most competitive Division II conferences in the nation, and I believe Clarion women’s basketball can once again compete for championships in the future.”

One of Ashley’s first goals will be to create a family atmosphere with the team.

“The first thing that is important to me in starting as a head coach and building this program is family,” Ashley said. “I know a lot people talk about family, but I actually want our program to live it. I’ve had some very great mentors, coaches who had family atmospheres in their programs. That is something I hope to do myself.”

Ashley also stresses academics and integrity will be the bedrocks the program is built upon.

“Academics are going to be very important,” Ashley said. “The main reason kids come to Clarion is to get a great education. Also, I want to do things with integrity. Everybody involved with our program is going to do things the right way.”

As for the type of player she would like to recruit for the Golden Eagles, Ashley is looking for high basketball IQ kids who have size and athleticism and are able to learn.

“Their work ethic is the most important quality,” Ashley said. “If they are willing to work and learn, we can teach and work on the rest.”

A native of Georgia and Alabama, Ashley is a 1998 graduate of Gaston High School in Gadsden, Ala. She played four seasons at North Alabama graduating in May 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Education.

Following graduation from North Alabama, Ashley was named the graduate assistant women’s basketball coach at Division I Radford (Va.) in August 2003. Spending two years at the GA at Radford, Ashley earned her master’s in Education from Radford in May 2005 and was hired as an assistant coach at the school in July.

As an assistant at Radford, Ashley helped the Highlanders go 20-11 in 2007 and 23-12 in 2008 including a trip to the Women’s NIT in 2008 and a pair of Big South championship game appearances in 2007 and 2008.

In April 2008, Ashley followed Radford head coach Jeri Porter, whom she had played for at North Alabama, to George Mason where she helped the Patriots to a 15-win season in 2012, the most wins at George Mason since 2004 before moving on to Iona for the start of the 2013-14 season.