Bio

Payton Ellison enters his first full season as Head Coach of the men’s and women’s track & field and cross country programs at Union Commonwealth University after serving in multiple roles within the program over the past several years.

A native of Somerset, Kentucky, Ellison is a 2019 graduate of Somerset High School, where he established himself as one of the top high jumpers in the state. He finished as the KHSAA Class A State Runner-Up in the high jump and earned All-County honors for three consecutive years.

Ellison continued his athletic career at Union Commonwealth University, where he competed in track & field and became one of the program’s most accomplished jumpers. He holds the school record in the high jump, earned All-Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) honors four times, and captured two AAC Championships. He also qualified for the national stage, placing 19th in the high jump at the 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. During his collegiate career, Ellison also recorded a top-50 mark nationally in the high jump.

Ellison graduated from Union Commonwealth University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Coaching. He went on to earn his Master of Business Administration from Union in 2025.

His coaching career began while volunteering with local high school programs from 2021 to 2023. He then served as a Graduate Assistant at Union Commonwealth from 2023 to 2025 before being elevated to Assistant Coach in July 2025. In March 2026, Ellison was named Interim Head Coach, leading the program through the remainder of the season before taking over the role full-time.

During his coaching tenure, Ellison has helped guide student-athletes to success at the conference level, including two second-place finishes in the triple jump at the AAC Championships.

Ellison is currently working toward completing his coaching certifications.

He is the son of Gayla Wedde and Christopher Wedde.