University of St. Thomas Athletics
Track & Field’s Pat Ahern (’93) voted to USTFCCCA Hall of Fame
4/8/2026 3:56:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
Former Tommie thrower and assistant coach one of six inducted to DIII Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- St. Thomas track & field hall of famer Pat Ahern will make his induction into another prestigious club after being announced as one of six inductees to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Ahern is the fourth Tommie enshrined in the USTFCCCA Division III Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, joining Leonard Jones in 2012, Kelly Copps in 2014 and Debbie Thometz in 2021.
Ahern graduated from St. Thomas in 1993 with a bachelor's degree and built one of the most decorated throwing careers in Division III history. During his collegiate career, Ahern earned nine All-America honors and captured four national championships across multiple throwing disciplines, including two in discus, one in the hammer throw, and one in the weight throw, while he also recorded three national runner-up finishes (discus, weight throw, shot put). His dominance extended to conference competition, where he was an eight-time champion and helped lead his team to a perfect eight-for-eight record in conference championships during his tenure. Ahern was also recognized with conference meet honors for Outstanding Performer and Outstanding Performance.
Ahern's legacy is further cemented in the record books. More than 25 years after his collegiate career, he still holds St. Thomas school record in the discus (193-4) and is top five in the weight throw (3rd), hammer throw (3rd) and indoor shot put (5th). At the time, the discus, weight throw and hammer throw marks ranked among the top five in Division III history, with his discus throw still ranking among the all-time best. He also set a national record in the weight throw and competed at the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials, in addition to qualifying for the 1993 U.S. National Championships. His success extended to major invitational meets, including titles at the Florida Relays and Kansas Relays, and a place finish in the Olympic Development division at the Penn Relays.
Following his competitive career, Ahern continued to shape the sport as a longtime throws assistant coach at St. Thomas. Over a two-decade period, he played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in developing elite talent, helping coach four NCAA national champions in the throws over a 12-season span.
The USTFCCCA is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches of all levels. The organization represents over 11,000 coaching members encompassing 98-percent of all NCAA track & field programs (DI, DII, and DIII) and includes members representing the NAIA and NJCAA, as well as a number of state high school coaches associations. The USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track & field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as an activist for coaches' interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @TommieWXCTF. For more information on St. Thomas Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, follow along on Instagram at @TommieMTFXC
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
Ahern is the fourth Tommie enshrined in the USTFCCCA Division III Collegiate Athlete Hall of Fame, joining Leonard Jones in 2012, Kelly Copps in 2014 and Debbie Thometz in 2021.
Ahern graduated from St. Thomas in 1993 with a bachelor's degree and built one of the most decorated throwing careers in Division III history. During his collegiate career, Ahern earned nine All-America honors and captured four national championships across multiple throwing disciplines, including two in discus, one in the hammer throw, and one in the weight throw, while he also recorded three national runner-up finishes (discus, weight throw, shot put). His dominance extended to conference competition, where he was an eight-time champion and helped lead his team to a perfect eight-for-eight record in conference championships during his tenure. Ahern was also recognized with conference meet honors for Outstanding Performer and Outstanding Performance.
Ahern's legacy is further cemented in the record books. More than 25 years after his collegiate career, he still holds St. Thomas school record in the discus (193-4) and is top five in the weight throw (3rd), hammer throw (3rd) and indoor shot put (5th). At the time, the discus, weight throw and hammer throw marks ranked among the top five in Division III history, with his discus throw still ranking among the all-time best. He also set a national record in the weight throw and competed at the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials, in addition to qualifying for the 1993 U.S. National Championships. His success extended to major invitational meets, including titles at the Florida Relays and Kansas Relays, and a place finish in the Olympic Development division at the Penn Relays.
Following his competitive career, Ahern continued to shape the sport as a longtime throws assistant coach at St. Thomas. Over a two-decade period, he played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in developing elite talent, helping coach four NCAA national champions in the throws over a 12-season span.
The USTFCCCA is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches of all levels. The organization represents over 11,000 coaching members encompassing 98-percent of all NCAA track & field programs (DI, DII, and DIII) and includes members representing the NAIA and NJCAA, as well as a number of state high school coaches associations. The USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track & field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as an activist for coaches' interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field.
Follow Along
For more information on St. Thomas Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @TommieWXCTF. For more information on St. Thomas Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, follow along on Instagram at @TommieMTFXC
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
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