Mike Petro begins his first season as an assistant cross country and track & field coach at Seton Hill in the fall of 2019. He will be responsible for coaching the Griffin throwers.
Petro comes to Seton Hill having previously served the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Denison University. During his time at Denison, Mike rapidly expanded the throws group from 4 athletes in 2015, to 17 for the 2019 campaign. Petro’s athletes broke 9 school records while earning 23 All-North Coast Athletic Conference selections, 8 All-Region honors, 6 NCAC individual conference championships, and 5 NCAA Division III championship meet qualifying marks. His tenure is highlighted by All-American performances in the pentathlon and the discus throw, with the latter marking the first All-American in the throwing events that the program has seen since 2003.
In addition to his track & field coaching experience, Mike brings a wealth of strength & conditioning experience to the Hill. He has served as a sports performance coach at Donskov Strength and Conditioning in Worthington, OH, and as a sports performance coaching intern at Rusnock Sports Performance and Fitness in Greensburg, PA. He is also certified as a strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Petro earned a master’s degree in Exercise Science & Health Promotion from California University of Pennsylvania in 2017.
Mike graduated from Allegheny College in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in Dance & Movement Studies. Competing in the hammer and weight throws, Petro earned 5 All-NCAC accolades, 2 NCAC individual conference championships and qualified for the 2015 NCAA Division III outdoor national championship in the hammer throw.
A native of Westmoreland County, Petro graduated from nearby Ligonier Valley High School in 2011. He currently resides in Trafford, PA with his wife, Alexa.
