Matt Ashley is entering his 3rd season as Linebackers Coach with the Pioneers and his 2nd season as Special Teams Coordinator. He came to MNU in 2011 as a Graduate Assistant working with the defensive line and linebackers where he helped them to a 10-2 season. Following the Pioneers playoff loss to eventual national champion St. Xavier, Ashley was named as Linebackers Coach and Special Teams Coordinator. In the 2012 Season, Ashley coached both 1st-Team All-HAAC Conference ILB selections (Joe Camacho, Joey Oxley) and a 2nd-Team OLB selection (Mychael McJunkins). His Special Teams also recorded 5 blocked kicks, 2 returns for touchdown, and did not give up a TD return all year.

Ashley started his coaching career in 2004, when he volunteered to help a struggling high school football program in Sequim, WA where he resided at the time. Joining the staff as Running Back and Linebackers coach for new Head Coach Erik Wiker, the two went on to build a perennial playoff team. From 2004-2010, Ashley not only coached RBs and LBs, but was also Special Teams Coordinator and finished his final two years a Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach. While there, they built Sequim into one of the top programs in Washington State, compiling an overall record of 63-16 and 6 League Championships.

Ashley played HS football for Lakeland Union in Woodruff, WI where he was a 3-year letter winner and captain for both their baseball and football squads. After graduating, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he redshirted his freshman year. That summer, while playing semi-pro baseball, he suffered a major shoulder injury that effectively ended his collegiate playing career. Ashley went on to graduate with a BS in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Coach Ashley lives in Lawrence, KS with his wife Julie.