Dr. Jon Metz holds a Master of Science in Education and Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. Additionally, Dr. Metz is certified as a USA Triathlon Level II (ITU) Coach, USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Coach, IRONMAN Coach, USA Cycling Coach, and TrainingPeaks Coach. His international and domestic coaching experience includes camps, clinics, groups, teams, and individuals in both draft-legal and non-draft legal environments. Beyond working with athletes, he instructs and mentors coaches, from all sports, in the area of effective coaching. His experience in the field of education and athletics is the perfect combination to ensure coaches understand and apply teaching skills to better connect with their athletes. Dr. Metz is the founding President of the College Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA). The CTCA was established to provide educational, professional, technical, and competitive support to the membership. Furthermore, the CTCA seeks to develop the sport among all NCAA institutions. Dr. Metz was instrumental in creating one of the first NCAA Varsity Triathlon Programs in the United States at Daemen College in Amherst, NY.
General:
•20 + years elite level coach in every discipline (xterra’s, non-draft, ITU, Long Course)
•4x Olympic Coach 2004,2008,2012,2016
•World Champion Coach
•4 x NCAA collegiate national champion coach with ASU 2016,2017,2018,2019
•Former Elite Coach of the Year
Past Roles:
•Head Coach McGill University Triathlon Club 1997-2000
•Head Coach DDO Elite Triathlon Team 2000-2002
•Canadian Elite Development coach 2002-2003
•USAT Elite National Team coach 2005-2008
•Head Coach/ Owner CEC (Cliff English Coaching) 2008 to present
Current Role:
•Head Coach ASU Women’s Triathlon Program
•Director of USAT Project Podium
Career results by the numbers:
•57 pro 70.3 wins and 146 70.3 podiums
•21 pro Ironman wins and 67 pro IM podiums
•278 pro wins and 793 pro podiums worldwide in ITU world cups, World Champs, Alcatraz, LA Tri, New York, Hy Vee , Columbia, Noosa, Lifetime Fitness, Chicago Nepean, Beijing, National titles , Pan Am medalists to name a few…
Past Pro Athletes:
Hunter Kemper, Ash Gentle, Heather Jackson, Matt Reed, Liz Lyles, Leanda Cave, Sam McGlone, Tim O’Donnell, TJ Tollakson, Sarah Haskins, Josh Amberger, Asa Lundstrom, Rebecca and Laurel Wassner, Peter Reid, Mel McQuaid, Leonardo Chacon, Michael and Amanda Lovato, Justin Daerr Manny Huerta, Blake Becker, Lauren Goss, Rachel McBride, Jackie Herring to name a few…
Cool accomplishments:
•9 female pro wildflower wins. Sam McGlone, Heather Jackson, Liz Lyles with 3 apiece including female podium sweep in 2014
•10 top 5’s at 70.3 world’s since 2006 including the inaugural 70.3 world championship win in 2006 with Sam McGlone and 2nd place in 2007 w/Sam , 3rd Tim in 2010
•12 top 10’s at IM world championships in Kona since 2005 including a 2nd and 3rd place with Sam McGlone 2007 and Peter Reid 2005, 5th with Sam in 2009, Tim O’Donnell in 2014 and Heather in 2015
Since being named King’s Director of Athletics in June 2011, David Hicks has guided the Tornado through a period of tremendous success in both competition and the classroom. During Hicks’ nine-year tenure:
The average GPA for student-athletes has remained above a 3.0 each year.
5 student-athletes have received the Conference Carolinas Elite 23 Award for having the top GPA at the Conference Championships
32 student-athletes have been named the Conference Carolinas Scholar Athlete of the Year for their respective sport
9 student-athletes have been named Academic All-American.
The NCAA Federal Graduation Rate reached a 10-year high in 2019-20 at 75 percent
Tornado athletic teams have won a combined 27 Conference Carolinas Messick Awards for sportsmanship, including the overall Messick Award in 2015 and 2020
Tornado athletic teams have won a total of 24 Conference Carolinas regular season or postseason championships
The women’s wrestling and cycling programs have combined for 10 National Championships.
4 sports, acrobatics & tumbling, esports, bass fishing and women’s triathlon have been added to King’s athletic offerings.
In addition to leading the Tornado athletic program, Hicks has remained active on the regional and national level in college sports.
NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (2019-Present)
NCAA Men’s Basketball Southeast Regional Advisory Committee (2018-Present)
Division II Athletic Directors’ Association Board of Directors (2015-20)
Division II Athletic Directors’ Association Regulatory Advisory Board (2015-18)
NCAA Culture of Compliance Summit (2017)
NCAA Women’s Basketball Southeast Regional Advisory Council (2015-18)
NCAA Softball Rules Committee (2014-18)
Chair of Conference Carolinas Athletic Director’s Council (2016-18)
Chair of Conference Carolinas Student-Athlete Affairs sub-committee (2011-15)
NCAA Softball Southeast Regional Advisory Council (2011-15)
Prior to arriving at King in June 2011, Hicks spent 13 years at Rhodes College as Assistant Athletic Director, and the last six years as Head Softball Coach. As a Coach, Hicks had a winning track record, having become Rhodes' all-time leader in softball wins in 2009 and earning career win number 100 in 2011. His teams averaged 27 wins per year over his last 3 seasons, making the SCAC Championship game in 2009. In his last four seasons alone, 37 players were named to the All-SCAC team, including one SCAC Pitcher of the Year, and he coached nine All-Atlantic Region players. His teams maintained a 3.4 team GPA during his tenure, with 32 players making the SCAC Academic Honor Roll and 19 players earning NFCA Scholar Athlete awards.
Hicks earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, in 1995, where he was a four-year starter on the baseball team. He earned his Master of Arts in Sport Management from Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio, in 1996. Prior to his time at Rhodes College, Hicks worked in the athletic ticketing and marketing offices at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.
He and his wife Cindy celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary in 2020, and are active members of Central Christian Church. They reside in Bristol with their four boys, Alex, who is in his senior year at King, Daniel, a freshman baseball player at Rhodes College, Stephen, age 16, and Luke, age 13.