Ashton Feldhaus, second from left, will have plenty of family members in Memorial Coliseum Monday when Morehead plays UK.
When the Kentucky women’s basketball team opens its season Monday by hosting Morehead State it will almost be a Feldhaus family reunion.
Ashton Feldhaus, 30, will be making her Division I head coaching debut for the Eagles. Her grandfather, Allen Feldhaus Sr., played basketball at Kentucky for coach Adolph Rupp and built Mason County into a high school powerhouse when he was coaching. Her uncle, Deron Feldhaus, was one of “The Unforgettables” who played for coach Rick Pitino. Another uncle, Willie, has been a successful high school coach.
Her father, Allen Jr., is one of the state’s most successful high school coaches and won the 2013 state championship. Her younger sister, Addison, is the creative content director for University of Kentucky men’s coach Mark Pope. Her older sister, Allie, works for Varsity Cheer and will be celebrating her 33rd birthday Monday night to add to the special night against the Wildcats.
“It’s pretty unique that her Division I coaching debut would be against Kentucky,” said Allen Feldhaus Jr.
She got her first head coaching job at Division II Missouri Western last season after spending five years at Eckerd College in Florida.
“We are so excited to have her closer to home. With me coaching and my wife coaching (cheerleading) it was almost impossible to drive nine hours to Missouri for games. Now she is a 50-minute drive away in Morehead,” the Madison Central coach said.
“She always wanted to be a coach. She can be a bit hard-headed at times but she has goals and is willing to do what it takes to reach those goals. She is very driven. I kind of stay out of her way. If we get out of our lane, she lets us know and she’s probably right because I have never coached college basketball.”
Ashton Feldhaus is just as creative as her younger sister is with her work for Pope. Ashton’s first Morehead roster has 10 international players from seven countries — Sweden, Spain, England, Montenegro, Estonia, Italy and Ukraine — and two domestic players.
She brought two players with her from Missouri Western, including point guard Marie Sepp.
“She’s not going to be our leading scorer, but she’ll lead us in assists,” Ashton Feldhaus said. “She commands the entire room. She’s the one talking, the one moving. She’s tough as nails and very gritty.That’s who we’re looking for.
“We are going to play quite a few kids. We have 12 on the roster and who is the most comfortable is who will play early and who can play the best without having to stop and think.”
Ashton Feldhaus says she looks highly at character in recruiting and her father says she found a niche recruiting international players.
“Ashton says the international players are unbelievable. In high school they spend half the day working on their sport and educationally they are ahead of us and she doesn’t have to worry about them in the classroom,” Allen Feldhaus said. “I think as time goes on she will have a more balanced mix of international and domestic players but she likes the international players.”
Against Kentucky, she will be on the big stage for the first time as a head Division I head coach but her father knows it is a challenge she is ready for.
“I knew she was ready to be a head Division I coach after what she did at Missouri Western last year. I know starting her Division I coaching career against Kentucky is going to be special and something she’ll probably appreciate a lot more after the game ends,” Allen Feldhaus said. “The Feldhaus family is all excited and ready to support her anyway we can.”
2 Responses
I only got to know Deron after he married a good friend’s daughter, and he is a class act.
The Feldhaus family may be the most historically successful one in the history of Kentucky BB, including HS & college, in all aspects of the game – player, coach, cheerleader, special assignments, etc.
Great article about a great family.
I remember watching Allen, Sr in Memorial Coliseum and when he was named the Mason County High head coach, everyone I knew in Mason County was delighted and full of big expectations – which were successfully fulfilled!
I have known this family since literally…before they were a family. They are the most earnest, goal driven, God fearing, salt of the earth family you could ever hope to have as a neighbor in your community, a teacher or guardian or coach of your children, or as a friend. It makes me so happy to see them recognized I'm this way.
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