Micheal Hanks

Micheal Hanks -- Horizontal Jumps -- (Tenth year)

Former Appalachian St. standout Mike Hanks joined the CNU coaching staff in 2006 and has written an impressive chapter in the Captains' Horizontal Jumps annals. He has consistently elevated CNU jumpers to the National level with 6 All-Americans and an additional 7 National Qualifiers to his credit. Hanks' charges have landed 44 Conference Titles and another 128 have earned points (top-6 finish). At the conclusion of the 2014 season, Hanks' jumpers owned 17 spots on the CNU All-Time Top-10 Lists in the Long Jump and Triple Jump. In 2010, Hanks was recognized as the South/Southeast Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.

His latest standout, Dominique Torres, was the Outdoor Runner-Up at the Division III Championships in 2014 as a sophomore. His 48-10.25 was nearly 4' farther than he had jumped in high school.

In 2011, he led Brittany Jacobs to appearances in both National Championships after improving her PR from 15-10 in high school to 18-6.25. She also improved her Triple Jump best from 33-0 to 37-4 under Hanks' guidance.

In 2009, he helped Isaac Bell to a runner-up finish at the Indoor National Championships in the Triple Jump and third Outdoors where he scared the 50' barrier (49-11.75).

Hanks earned All-America recognition five times in the triple jump, was the Southern Conference Athlete of the Year three times and holds the School and Conference Records in the Indoor and Outdoor Long Jump, the Indoor Triple Jump, and holds the Conference Record in the Outdoor Triple Jump. In 1988 and participated in the Olympic Trials and jumped in the World University Games qualifier.

He began his coaching career at his alma mater where he assisted with the jumps for three years and mentored five Conference Champions and seven All-Conference athletes. He later spent three years at Clemson, continuing his coaching success with six ACC Champions and six All-ACC athletes. Prior to joining the CNU staff, he coached at nearby Tabb H.S. He’s a native of Henderson, N.C.