ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri S&T Director of Athletics Melissa Ringhausen has announced Ashton Howard as the Assistant Director of Athletics for NCAA Compliance.  Howard began her duties in the department on August 1, 2023. 

Howard joined the S&T campus in October of 2022 as a senior admissions counselor and visitor center coordinator.  In this role, she was responsible for updating databases and electronic records for perspective students, maintaining the master schedule for recruiting events, and scheduling prospective students and their families for campus visits. 

"I am pleased that Ashton is joining the S&T athletic staff," said Missouri S&T Director of Athletics Melissa Ringhausen.  "She has worked at S&T in admissions, so she is already familiar with many of our institutional platforms.   She was impressive in the interview process with her intelligence, energy, and work ethic.  I look forward to working with her in this new and very important role."

"I am extremely excited to join the athletic staff at S&T," Howard said.  "I would like to thank Melissa Ringhausen for this opportunity. I look forward to working with all our coaches and athletes."

Prior to coming to Missouri S&T, Howard served as public school educator and coach in Oklahoma, first at Luther Public Schools for one year, Morris Public Schools for two years, and two years at Warner Public Schools.  As an educator, Howard created and managed a database of over 50 individual education plans used to define student learning objectives and educational strategies while applying instructional methods to achieve those goals.  She was also responsible for cultivating connections to foster classroom engagement and updated student records for parents and school administration.

Howard was the head softball coach at each high school and oversaw all aspects of the program, including game strategy, skill development, strength and conditioning, field and equipment maintenance and managing game and practice schedules.  In addition, she was an assist coach at Connors State College from June of 2019 until August of 2022, coaching pitchers and coordinating recruiting efforts.

Howard played collegiate softball at Clarendon College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in 2012 in health and sports science.  Her coaching career started as a graduate assistant coach at NWOSU eventually moving to an assistant coaching position at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa and Garden City Community College.  

As an assistant coach, Howard had several compliance related responsibilities including practice logs, scheduling official visits, monitoring grades and academic progress, as well as managing the program's operational budget.   She was also responsible for organizing special events at away competitions. 

Along with receiving her bachelor's degree, Howard earned a master's degree in sports administration and a second master's degree in special education from East Central University.

Ashton is married to the S&T head women's softball coach, Bryan Howard.  The two reside in Rolla and have two boys, Lincoln and Creed.