Jana Capps joined the ASU track and field coaching staff in the summer of 2005 and brought with her a bushel of credentials when it comes to knowing her stuff.
Capps works with ASU’s men’s and women’s sprint group and hurdlers. She came to Arkansas State by way of former ASU Olympian and world record holder in the pole vault, Earl Bell. Bell, a Jonesboro resident, contacted Jana about coming to Jonesboro to train in the pole vault. Upon arrival, Capps offered her services to Coach Jay Flanagan as a volunteer coach.
Flanagan, familiar with Capps’ experience and success as a vaulter, had her resume. When an opening became available on the coaching staff, Capps applied for the position.
“She is an outstanding athlete in her own right and, being a heptathlete, she is extremely knowledgeable about all events.”
A native of Idaho, Capps attended Idaho State on an athletic scholarship where she was the 2004 indoor conference champion in the pole vault. She also set the school record in the vault with 12-6, both indoors and outdoors. Capps was also an All-Big Sky Conference selection. Jana also competed as a pentathlete and heptathlete for ISU.
Prior to coming to ASU, Capps worked as a teacher in Burley, Idaho’s school district. While there, she was the assistant track and field coach specializing in the pole vault and jumps. She also served as the assistant junior varsity girls basketball coach.
Capps also worked as a Forest Service employee with the fire crew in burley for three years as well as a river raft guide on the Salmon River.
A graduate of Jerome High School in Jerome, Idaho, Capps was part of the school’s advanced speech team, earned four letters in varsity athletics and was the state champion in the 300-meter hurdles. She also held Jerome’s school records in the hurdles and the pole vault.
Jana has two brothers who were college pole vaulters.
