A talented midfielder, Mark Ashley left an indelible mark on Houghton soccer, playing a vital role in the team’s NCCAA National Championship in 1986, and a District 18 Championship and trip to the NAIA National Tournament in Texas in 1987. Individually, Ashley earned an All-Region and NAIA Honorable Mention All-America nods following his senior season.
Like his friend, former teammate, and fellow-Hall of Honor-inductee, James Mullen, perhaps Mark Ashley’s greatest contribution on the pitch came after graduation, from the sideline, not the midfield. Mark would go on the coach soccer at various levels, but became most noted for his work with the boys and girls soccer teams at Hempfield High School in his native Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. At Hempfield he would guide four teams to Pennsylvania State High School Championship finals, winning twice, accumulate 471 career victories and help send five players into the professional ranks.
And while those accomplishments remain impressive on their own merit, according to Ashley, “…seeing lives being changed by Christ through vocational ministry in my church, or starting the FCA club at our high school, has been even more meaningful.”
Mark was “born and raised” in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and became involved in sports in his elementary school years. When his dad would come home from work, Mark and his brother Eric would be waiting to greet him with a ball. He’d put down his lunch box and they’d play until they were called in for dinner.”
The Ashley brothers’ interpersonal connection with sports grew as they aged, often pitting themselves against each other and other friends who came to visit their family farm. Mark played a wide variety of youth sports, and eventually became known for his success as a runner. The team aspects of soccer and basketball, though, were what appealed to him most.
As the end of high school neared, Mark began receiving interest from college soccer coaches. While on a recruiting visit to Wheaton College, several fellow students who were also considering Houghton made him aware of the Western New York liberal arts college.
Mark’s love of the outdoors, and a desire for a smaller school with a Christian education, strong academics and a quality soccer program attracted him to Houghton. After meeting Coach Burke and the soccer players on his visits to campus, he was “hooked on Houghton, and never looked back!”
During his time at Houghton, Mark says he made his faith his own rather than simply believing what he had been taught at home and in church growing up. While most of those truths were solidified, he says he was better equipped to articulate them [and] understand the why behind those beliefs.”
Of his experiences at Houghton, Mark’s time with the men’s soccer team stand out as most memorable. He cites the team’s thrilling 1986 overtime victory against Eastern in the snow and mud, then defeating Biola in the NCCAA Championship as a pair of his favorites. He also fondly remembers the “hard-fought loss to Simon Frazier in the NAIA Championship at Thanksgiving, where the unofficial slogan was ‘Turkey in Texas.’”
While Mark provided many fond memories, he states that playing with his brother Eric in 1987 and assisting him on a game winning goal he scored in OT, and then carrying him off the field in celebration, was the most special.
Following a pair of one-year stops at small Christian schools, where he worked as Athletic Director, teacher and coach, as well as stints as Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Penn State University-Harrisburg and Franklin & Marshall College, Mark eventually took a teaching position at his high school alma mater, Hempfield. A year later he accepted openings to coach the varsity boys and varsity girls teams.
After leading his girls’ team to a Pennsylvania State Championship in 2000, and returning to the state finals again in 2001, he decided to streamline his efforts and focus on just coaching the high school boys, which also allowed him to coach his kids in youth sports.
It was during this season that Mark sensed God’s call into full-time ministry at his church. For the next six years he served as a pastor of young adult ministries, led a Global Missions Initiatives and started the Sports Ministry. Then in 2008 he felt led to return to the public school mission field, returning to Hempfield as department supervisor, teacher, and boys soccer coach, where he has remained since.
Mark is married to Judy Geruldsen, Class of 1989. They have three children: Tyler and Kelsie, both Houghton graduates and student-athletes, and Katie, who is married to Josiah Kratz, a 2020 Houghton soccer grad. They live in their historic stone home in Landisville, Pennsylvania.
Mark is currently the Department Coordinator for Health & Physical Education and boys’ soccer coach at Hempfield High School. He and his wife enjoy spending time with family, hiking, canoeing, and kayaking on a local river, playing games, or traveling, visiting their children and their spouses, and occasional trips to the beach, or working on the family farm. He still enjoys playing basketball for exercise and getting out on the golf course with his dad and son, Tyler, in the summer, along with meaningful discussions in small group, and serving in the church community.
