Michael McPherson is in his third year as an assistant track & field coach at UTSA. McPherson primarily works with the pole vaulters along with assisting with the multis and high jump.
In his first year with the program, he helped the men's program finish second at the Conference USA Indoor Championships and third at the league's outdoor meet. Adrian Riley finished second in the heptathlon at the C-USA Indoor and was the conference's runner-up and a second-team All-American in the decathlon outdoors. Ty Anderson was the conference runner-up and a second-team All-American in the high jump. Athletes in his event groups from the men's and women's teams combined to score 35 points at the C-USA Indoor and 34 points at the conference outdoor meet.
In 2019, McPherson helped Gary Haasbroek earn second-team All-America honors in the heptathlon and honorable mention All-America accolades in the decathlon while also winning both of the league's multi-event competitions. Gabriyella Torres also collected a conference crown, grabbing gold in the indoor pentathlon. Haasbroek broke the UTSA record in the indoor heptathlon and moved into the second spot on the school's all-time performers list in the indoor high jump, while Torres finished her career ranked third in program history in the pentathlon.
Additionally, McPherson coached Caroline Bellows and Haasbroek to the No. 2 spot on the program's all-time performers list in the indoor pole vault, while they stand second and third, respectively, on the outdoor pole vault chart.
McPherson came to the Alamo City from Idaho State, where he was as an assistant coach for vertical jumps. He helped guide Steven Wacker to the 2017 Big Sky Conference Outdoor pole vault title, while Steven Beck was runner-up at the league's indoor championship.
McPherson got his coaching start at Air Force under the legendary pole vault coach Scott Steffan in 2015. He helped the Falcons to the 2015-16 Mountain West Conference triple crown, winning team championships in cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field. He also helped coach the 2016 NCAA Indoor runner-up in the high jump, Taylor Smith. The Falcons also saw three athletes qualify for the finals of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, including runner-up and Olympics qualifier Cale Simmons.
A native of Parker, Colorado, McPherson was a two-time All-American in the multi-events at Utah Valley. He placed 16th in the decathlon at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships, was 12th in the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships and finished fifth in the heptathlon at the 2013 U.S. Indoor Championships. He set school records in the heptathlon (5,546) and decathlon (7,401) and also qualified for NCAA Regionals in the 200 meters in 2013 and in the long jump in 2013 and 2014.
McPherson earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science in 2015 from Utah Valley.
In his first year with the program, he helped the men's program finish second at the Conference USA Indoor Championships and third at the league's outdoor meet. Adrian Riley finished second in the heptathlon at the C-USA Indoor and was the conference's runner-up and a second-team All-American in the decathlon outdoors. Ty Anderson was the conference runner-up and a second-team All-American in the high jump. Athletes in his event groups from the men's and women's teams combined to score 35 points at the C-USA Indoor and 34 points at the conference outdoor meet.
In 2019, McPherson helped Gary Haasbroek earn second-team All-America honors in the heptathlon and honorable mention All-America accolades in the decathlon while also winning both of the league's multi-event competitions. Gabriyella Torres also collected a conference crown, grabbing gold in the indoor pentathlon. Haasbroek broke the UTSA record in the indoor heptathlon and moved into the second spot on the school's all-time performers list in the indoor high jump, while Torres finished her career ranked third in program history in the pentathlon.
Additionally, McPherson coached Caroline Bellows and Haasbroek to the No. 2 spot on the program's all-time performers list in the indoor pole vault, while they stand second and third, respectively, on the outdoor pole vault chart.
McPherson came to the Alamo City from Idaho State, where he was as an assistant coach for vertical jumps. He helped guide Steven Wacker to the 2017 Big Sky Conference Outdoor pole vault title, while Steven Beck was runner-up at the league's indoor championship.
McPherson got his coaching start at Air Force under the legendary pole vault coach Scott Steffan in 2015. He helped the Falcons to the 2015-16 Mountain West Conference triple crown, winning team championships in cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field. He also helped coach the 2016 NCAA Indoor runner-up in the high jump, Taylor Smith. The Falcons also saw three athletes qualify for the finals of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, including runner-up and Olympics qualifier Cale Simmons.
A native of Parker, Colorado, McPherson was a two-time All-American in the multi-events at Utah Valley. He placed 16th in the decathlon at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships, was 12th in the heptathlon at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships and finished fifth in the heptathlon at the 2013 U.S. Indoor Championships. He set school records in the heptathlon (5,546) and decathlon (7,401) and also qualified for NCAA Regionals in the 200 meters in 2013 and in the long jump in 2013 and 2014.
McPherson earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science in 2015 from Utah Valley.