A critical part of the Hillsdale College track and field program's success over the last four seasons is stepping into a new and enhanced role this fall for the Chargers.
Jessica Bridenthal, an assistant coach with the Charger track and field program, is moving into the associate head coaching position under new head coach R.P. White, effective immediately.
The promotion comes after four seasons of excellent work as Hillsdale College's throws coach -- starting in the 2018-19 season -- and includes an increased leadership role with the overall team in several areas.
"I'm honored and excited to receive this promotion; it really means something to be given this opportunity at a program with the history of success and the standard of excellence that Hillsdale has," Bridenthal said. "I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish in my time here, and I'm really glad to be able to keep working with a great coaching staff and great student-athletes.
"It's really gratifying to get the chance to take on a bigger role with this program, and I appreciate the trust shown in me by the athletic department and Coach White. I'm looking forward to getting to work."
Bridenthal has been extremely successful working with Hillsdale College's throwers over the past four years, helping the Chargers win multiple G-MAC event titles, send multiple athletes to NCAA DII national championship meets, and rewrite the school record book on the women's side.
From early in her tenure, Bridenthal helped develop Nikita Maines into one of the top women's throwers in the Midwest, as the rising senior has earned qualifying berths to four national meets, won multiple G-MAC titles and set the school's indoor and outdoor shot put records over the last four seasons. Additionally, under Bridenthal's guidance, rising juniors Katie Sayles and Eden Little also broke school records, in the indoor weight throw and outdoor javelin, respectively, while rising sophomore Averi Parker became the program's first All-American in the throws since the 2017-18 season by finishing eighth in the nation in the shot put at the 2022 NCAA DII Indoor Championships this past season.
On the men's side, as well, Bridenthal's influence can be seen in the team's 2021-22 recruiting class, which included G-MAC champion javelin thrower Kyle MacBeth and shot put/weight throw competitor Ben Haas, who was on track to contend for a berth in the NCAA DII Indoor national meet before an injury cut his season short.
"Jess is an excellent coach, and I'm really excited to have her move into an even more important role on the staff here," White said. "She's a great teacher and an aggressive recruiter who knows exactly the type of student-athlete we're looking for at Hillsdale, and how to convince them to come here and help them reach their full potential.
"I think she's going to do great things with the new responsibilities she has, and we're all looking forward to next season and the future of the program."
Bridenthal came to Hillsdale after serving as the head coach at Keystone College in Pennsylvania. In addition to being the head coach there, she was also the strength and conditioning coach for the athletic department, enhancing the planning and execution of workout plans for teams across the entire department.
Prior to Hillsdale, Bridenthal's coaching career also included stops at Duquesne University, the College of Wooster and Freedom High School. She's also worked as a personal trainer at Snap Fitness 24/7 and the YMCA.
In her undergraduate years as a thrower at Ashland University, she was an NCAA Division II national champion in the weight throw (19.71m in 2014), and racked up an incredible 12 All-American honors between indoor and outdoor competition. She qualified for the national championships 14 separate times throughout her career. To this day, she holds the freshman record in the indoor 20-pound weight throw at Ashland (19.60m).