Former NAIA All-American Mike Marsh is in his sixth season on the Cougar track & field coaching staff. Marsh primarily oversees the Cougar men's and women's pole vaulters, but he does assist in other events among the decathlon/heptathlon family.
Marsh came west in 2002 to train with the nationally renowned Azusa Pacific decathletes after completing a fine 4-year career at Cedarville (Ohio) College. As a collegian, Marsh was a 3-time NAIA All-American in the decathlon (twice) and pentathlon (once).
As a 2001 junior he fashioned one of the best individual seasons in Cedarville track & field history. He set the school and National Christian College Athletic Association decathlon records with a score of 6,551 points at the NCCAA championship meet held at Cedarville. He led the Yellow Jackets to their first and only American Mideast Conference championship. Earlier that year, he finished third in NAIA indoor pentathlon, trailing only Azusa Pacific's Bryan Clay and Chris Carlson, by tallying a school record 3,480 points.
As a 2002 senior, Marsh earned another NAIA All-American honor in the pentathlon and later in the year won the American Mideast Conference long jump crown. He posted collegiate personal bests of 11.39 (100m), 15.64 (110m HH), 4:44.77 (1500m), and 22' 10 1/2" (long jump)
Marsh, 27, graduated from Cedarville in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in business. He prepped at Keswick Christian High in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he competed 4 seasons in cross country, qualifying for the state meet as a 1998 senior, and 1 season in track & field.
Since coming to California nearly 5 years ago, Marsh has continued his training in the decathlon. Last June he scored 7,578 points in a decathlon in Dallas, Texas, to qualify for the U.S. Championships. In the spring of 2005, he narrowly missed the U.S. Championship Meet when he recorded a career best 7,587 points to win the Claremont Classic with a Burns Stadium record. His point total was the 15th best in the nation that year. He registered bests of 10.88 (100m), 14.73 (110m HH), and 15'Â 11"Â (pole vault) in that decathlon.
Marsh and his wife Lauri, (an Azusa Pacific alum and assistant coach in the Cougar aquatics program), reside in Glendora. Mike also works as a lifeguard and is sponsored by Champion Nutrition in his competitions.
