Power couple leads track and field to success

Michelle Clayton and Marc Davis combine for nearly 60 years of coaching experience

Troy University held a home meet at Troy’s very own Jesse H. Colley track for the Doc Anderson Invitational.

A combination of 14 schools competed against the Troy Trojans this past weekend, including West Florida, Alabama State, UAB, Mercer, Tuskegee and many others.

The track and field home meet consisted of various events such as javelin, shotput, hurdles, relay race, sprints and long jump.

“Today was awesome,” said Michelle Clayton, assistant throws and strength coach. “I just love putting on a home meet.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s awesome seeing the athletes being able to be at home in their environment where they train every day.”

Clayton has been coaching for 28 years, 11 of those years being here at Troy.

Clayton shared how much Troy means to her after constantly moving throughout her coaching career.

“Being here for 11 years is very hard for me to wrap my head around,” Clayton said. “I never thought we’d be here this long.

“Theres a lot of good and Troy’s been great to us. We were constantly moving, so being here for so long, the travel piece is what is my favorite thing for sure.”

Although Troy holds a special place in Clayton’s heart, she appreciates the traveling aspect of track meets.

“That’s the beauty of track and field where track is just amazing,” Clayton said. “Taking the student athletes to places they’ve never been, giving them opportunities that they never thought they would have and watching them respond and grow is awesome.”

Clayton is married to director of track and field Marc Davis. Davis holds 30 years of coaching experience along with numerous track and field accomplishments, including coaching 27 Sun Belt Conference Champions.

Clayton has also achieved impressive national-level track and field accomplishments, such as coaching 26 NCAA East Preliminary Round qualifiers.

“This is what I’m immersed in 24/7,” Clayton said. “I’m interacting with every athlete, not just the 18 that I work with every day, but all 93 at some point in the week.

“For me that’s a pretty cool experience.”

Clayton has a long history with track and field. Prior to her 28 years of coaching, she was a student-athlete at East Carolina throwing shot put, discus and hammer, setting school records.

She threw five years collegiately, followed by going to the Olympic trials.

“Track is very special and unique,” Clayton said. “Oftentimes when we think of sport, we think of team sport immediately like football or basketball, but this is you and you alone.

“The work you put in every single day and the commitment you make outside of here has a direct correlation to how you perform and where you go. That’s what I work my butt off for and I wouldn’t trade that for a million bucks.”

Student-athletes Clayton has coached were top-three finishers at the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Outdoor Championship and competed in the home meet this past weekend.

“That’s what I love about this sport,” Clayton said. “I love to watch kids grow that really do buy in, do the right things and give everything they have.

“It’s a huge holistic approach where no matter what level I start at, I’m going to improve if that’s my mindset and work ethic. When that becomes who and what you are, then everything flourishes from your academics to your personal life to your athletic life.”

Clayton and Davis continue to lead Troy’s track and field throws team to victory with her elite track and coaching experience.