SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Mike Arthur, CSCS, RSCC*E
Mike Arthur is in 35th year with the Nebraska Athletic Department. During his time at Nebraska, he has worked with all of the Huskers’ 23 athletic programs, coordinating sport-specific workout programs. Arthur’s years at Nebraska have produced many advances in the strength programs used by athletes around the nation. His research helps Nebraska stay on the cutting edge, allowing Husker student-athletes to develop their skills and talents further. Arthur was named to the U.S. Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame in June 2003. He also received the Collegiate Strength Coach of the Year award in 1995 from the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society.
Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN
Leslie Bonci holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and is also a board certified specialist in sports dietetics. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association and several dietetic practice groups, and works closely with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). She is a frequent presenter at conferences, including the American Dietetic Association’s Sport, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition dietetic practice group and Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo, as well as the NATA, and speaks at universities and worksites. Bonci is the sports dietitian for the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Washington Nationals. She is also the consulting nutritionist for the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Browns, USA Women’s Rugby, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee Sports Nutrition network. Bonci authored “American Dietetic Guide to Better Digestion” and “Sport Nutrition for Coaches.” She is also co-author of “Run Your Butt Off” and “The Active Calorie Diet.”
Jeremy Boone, CSCS
Jeremy Boone is the owner of Athlete By Design, Inc. He is on the advisory board for the Cybex Institute. He is an international lecturer including multiple past presentations at various NSCA events. In the past, he has worked with athletes and teams at the high school, college, and professional levels including being a part of the Carolina Panthers’ off-season program the last six years and working with professional soccer teams in Europe and South America. Previously, his focus and area of research was on athletic evaluation and change of direction. Over the past three years, he has focused on sports axiology (the science of human value and making decisions in sport) and has co-developed the “Ready to Play Mental Profile” now used in four countries worldwide. Using research data from thousands of athlete and coaching profiles, he provides a variety of coaching educational strategies on improving all aspects of the mental game.
Perry Castellano, CSCS, RSCC*D
Perry Castellano is going into his 14th year in professional baseball and his 7th as the Major League Strength Coach of the Minnesota Twins. He spent five years as the Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator and two as an intern at AA for the Texas Rangers. Prior to professional baseball, Castellano spent three years as an instructor at the University of Tulsa teaching strength and conditioning principles to athletic training students, and 11 years as a professional firefighter in California. His past 26 years have been devoted to making professionals stronger and more efficient physically.
Scott Caulfield, CSCS,*D, RSCC, USAW
Scott Caulfield is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach/Performance Center Manager at NSCA Headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO. He is responsible for the day-to-day operation and supervision of the NSCA’s 6,000 sq ft Performance Center, as well as training and mentoring three interns every semester through the NSCA’s internship program. Coach Caulfield also serves as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Colorado College men’s ice hockey and women’s soccer.
Gene Coleman, EdD, CSCS, RSCC*E
Gene Coleman is a Professor and Chair of the Fitness and Human Performance Program at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and is the former conditioning coach for the Houston Astros, a position that he held for the past 32 years. He has received several research grants and has served as a visiting scientist at the NASA-JSC in the area of astronaut selection and training. Coleman received the first annual Nolan Ryan Award in 2005 as the MLB Strength Coach of the Year and was the first strength and conditioning coach to be invited to participate in the MLB All-Star Baseball Game (2012). He is the author of “52-Week Baseball Training” and has taught at Eastern Kentucky University, Texas Tech University, and the University of Texas-Austin.
Jeff Connors, CSCS
Jeff Connors was recently named Assistant Athletic Director for strength and conditioning at East Carolina University (ECU). Connors takes over ECU’s top athletic performance position after spending the last 10 seasons on the University of North Carolina staff as a strength and conditioning coordinator and Assistant Athletic Director. His new assignment at ECU will mark his second stint with the Pirate program after a 10-year strength and conditioning leadership tenure. Connors’ efforts helped produce five bowl appearances, three post-season victories, 15 National Football League draft selections, and representation in two final Top 25 polls. Connors is a frequently requested speaker asked to present his strength and conditioning program and philosophies to clinics and conferences across the country. He was also a competitive powerlifter who won four state titles in powerlifting and held a ranking as high as fourth nationally. Connors holds Level 1 certification in Olympic Weightlifting by the U.S. Weightlifting Federation and has had numerous articles published in Wrestling USA, NSCA Journal, Training and Conditioning Magazine, and Bigger Faster Stronger Journal.
Herman Demmink, CSCS, USAW
Herman Demmink is in his third year as strength and conditioning coach for the University of Tennessee men’s baseball and tennis teams. Since retiring from baseball, Demmink has become the president and owner of 3D Performance Training, LLC, and is responsible for training a vast array of professional athletes, including players in the MLB, NFL, MLS, PGA, as well as Olympic and tri-athletes around the world. Most recently, he was named the Director of Sports Performance for the 2012 USA Baseball National Collegiate team. He is a Member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and his credentials include Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist®, USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Certification, and Athletic Republic Level 2.
Shane Domer, MEd, CSCS,*D, NCSA-CPT,*D
Shane Domer is currently in his sixth season as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for U.S.A. Speedskating. He is responsible for providing strength and conditioning services to all training programs ranging from developmental to Olympic level. Prior to his work at U.S.A. Speedskating, Domer served as a strength and conditioning coach at the NSCA World Headquarters, the University of Georgia, the Optimal Athlete, and the American Bushido Karate Association. These work experiences provided him with an extensive background and valuable knowledge of working with an array of different sports and athletes; many of whom were athletes that competed in the 2004, 2008, 2010, and 2012 Olympic Games. In 2011, Domer received the USOC Doc Councilman Award for his integral use of sports sciences in the physical preparation of Speedskating athletes.
Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS
Dave Ellis has 30 years of experience as a sports RD and has logged 20 years in the collegiate ranks. He started a private practice that has him traveling the globe and working with some of the biggest names in the business. Ellis is also the past President of the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association and is heavily engaged with food and supplement security issues involving adulteration and doping issues.
Mike Favre, MEd, CSCS,*D, RSCC*D, USAW
Mike Favre is in his third year as the Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic sports at the University of Michigan. He oversees a staff of three full-time coaches, four graduate assistant coaches, along with 5 – 7 interns each semester. Favre joined the University of Michigan after spending five years as a strength and conditioning coach at the United States Olympic Committee Sports Performance Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Favre earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Arizona State University in 1997 and a Master’s degree in Sports Administration from Temple University in 2001. Favre was also an infantry soldier with the United States Army from 1989 to 1992, where he served in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm.
Paul Fleschler, CSCS
Paul Fleschler is the owner of Front Range Sports Performance & Fitness and RedRocks CrossFit in Colorado Springs, CO. The main focus of his program is to enhance the performance of clients through various training methodologies including speed and agility training, weightlifting, CrossFit, injury prevention, and core stability. Fleschler, a 1992 Olympian in weightlifting, earned a Master’s degree in Motor Control and Learning from Indiana University, where he also served as the Head Strength Coordinator for Indiana University Basketball under Coach Bob Knight.
Holly Frantz, CSCS
Holly Frantz is entering her fourth year as an assistant for the Tennessee Strength and Conditioning Department. Her primary responsibilities include creating and implementing strength, speed, and conditioning programs for the Lady Volunteers softball and volleyball teams. Frantz is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association, and is certified to perform Functional Movement Screen analysis.
Brian Gearity, PhD, CSCS, ATC, USATF, USAW
Brian Gearity is an Assistant Professor in Sport Coaching Education at the University of Southern Mississippi and a volunteer strength/football coach at Purvis High School. He was the strength and conditioning coach for the Cleveland Indians, the University of Tennessee, and John Carroll University. His research interests include coach quality, coach-athlete relationships, and coaches’ use of power-knowledge and its effects on athletes.
Greg Haff, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA
Greg Haff is a Senior Lecturer and Strength Scientist at Edith Cowan University. In 2011, he was the recipient of the NSCA’s William J. Kraemer Sport Scientist of the Year Award. Haff has served as the Vice President of the NSCA and Assistant Editor in Chief for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. He is currently an Associate Editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Haff is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® with Distinction, a founding Fellow of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and an accredited member of the United Kingdom Strength & Conditioning Association. He is a Level 3 Australian Weightlifting Association Coach, a USA Weightlifting Regional Level Coach and has served as an outside scientist with the United States Olympic Training Centers Performance Enhancement Teams for Track Cycling and Weightlifting.
Allen Hedrick, MA, CSCS,*D, RSCC*E, FNSCA
Allen Hedrick is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Colorado State University-Pueblo, a position he has held since 2009. Hedrick began his coaching career at Fresno State University as a graduate assistant while completing his Master’s degree in Exercise Science. After completing his degree, he was hired to work as the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. After three years in that position, Hedrick moved to the U.S. Air Force Academy for 12 years, the first three as an assistant and the last nine as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. After leaving the Air Force Academy, Hedrick worked at the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) for two years before moving to his current position. Hedrick, who was named the NSCA’s Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 2003, has published articles in a variety of journals, authored chapters in two textbooks, produced numerous DVDs, and spoken frequently at conferences and clinics both nationally and internationally.
Ron Hruska, MPA, PT
Ron Hruska is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Division of Physical Therapy. He has a strong interest in myokinematic and biomechanical influences on postural and peripheral adaptation patterns. He serves as the Biomechanical Consultant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through the Division of Athletic Medicine. He is Director of the Postural Restoration Institute and practices at the Hruska Clinic, Restorative Physical Therapy Services in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Angelo James
Angelo James joined the University of Tennessee’s full-time strength and conditioning staff in the fall of 2011, after serving as the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI. James arrived at Bryant University in January of 2010 and was a driving force behind creating the first ever official Strength and Conditioning Department for the Bulldogs. He oversaw the design and implementation of training programs for all 22 teams while at Bryant and helped facilitate the renovation of the weight room, doubling its size.
Jon Jost, MS, CSCS, RSCC*E
Jon Jost is in his 9th year at Florida State University and serves as the Director of Strength and Conditioning for the Athletic Department. Jonathan, who came to FSU from Southern Methodist University, is now firmly established at FSU and has made a tremendous impact with every athletic team and throughout the entire athletics program. He was named a Master Strength and Conditioning coach in 2003 and has been instrumental in the development of the new Sports Sciences Masters program at FSU.
Mark Kovacs, PhD, CSCS,*D
Mark Kovacs is a renowned performance physiologist, researcher, university professor, author, speaker, and coach with extensive background training and researching athletes at all levels. He is currently the Executive Director of the International Tennis Performance Association (ITPA). He formally directed the Sport Science, Strength and Conditioning and Coaching Education Departments for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and is still involved with the USTA as the Player Development Specialist. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles and abstracts in top journals. He is currently the Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Strength and Conditioning Journal and is on the editorial board for multiple other journals. Kovacs is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® with Distinction through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Kovacs was the recipient of the Editorial Excellence Award for his work with the Strength and Conditioning Journal. In 2010, he was awarded the prestigious Plagenhoef Award for Sport Science Achievement, and in 2012, he was awarded the International Tennis Hall of Fame Educational Merit Award.
Susan Kundrat, MS, RD, CSSD
Susan Kundrat is an Assistant Professor of Kinesiology and the Program Director for the Nutritional Sciences Bachelor’s program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). She is also involved in the Coordinated Program in Dietetics, with a sports nutrition emphasis, which will be offered in 2013. Kundrat focuses on nutrition communications and sports/wellness nutrition, and is involved with the University’s research program. Kundrat received her Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Minnesota State University-Mankato, completed a dietetic internship at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital, and received her Master of Science degree in Nutrition from Iowa State University.
Ben Larson
Ben Larson joined the University of Tennessee’s full-time strength and conditioning staff in 2011, after serving the previous year as the strength and conditioning intern. Larson has been on Derek Dooley’s staff since arriving at Louisiana Tech in 2007. Before joining up with Dooley, Larson was the Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, LA. He also worked as an intern at the University of South Florida.
Ron McKeefery, MA, CSCS,*D
Ron McKeefery has served as a strength and conditioning coach at both the professional and collegiate levels, having worked with such professional organizations as the Kansas City Royals (MLB), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), and the Berlin Thunder (NFL Europe). Currently, he is the Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Tennessee (UT). Prior to UT, he spent 10 seasons with the University of South Florida. At South Florida, he coached 20 NFL Draft Picks. Additionally, he has worked with seven All-Americans, numerous NFL free agents, and All-Conference selections. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Adult Education from the University of South Florida, and Bachelor degrees in Biology and Physical Education from Ottawa University. While at Ottawa University, he was a two-sport athlete earning All-Conference honors in football and track. He was also a two-time Academic All-American.
Tevah Morris, CSCS
Tevah Morris is in his third year with the Tennessee Strength and Conditioning Department. His responsibilities include creating and implementing yearly comprehensive strength and conditioning programs for men’s and women’s track and field/cross-country. Morris completed a full-time internship at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, from 2008 – 2010 where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Shawn Myszka, CSCS,*D
Shawn Myszka is the Co-Founder/Athletic Performance Director of Explosive Edge Athletics in Minneapolis, MN which currently trains many of the top athletes in the state on all levels including a host of NFL players. He also serves as a trusted consultant to coaches at numerous professional, collegiate, and high school athletic programs. Myszka is a well-known and highly sought-after clinician and leader in the field of jump training/plyometrics, training transfer, and sport-specific power development, and is a frequent presenter at both strength coach and sports conferences nationwide. Myszka, who is the Founder of the Plyometrics/Jump Training Special Interest Group, recently developed the first-ever Jump Training Certification designed for coaches looking to specialize in training to increase jump performance. In 2011, he was responsible for the design and development of the world-renowned BoingVERT Jump System which quickly established itself as the standard for all jump programs on the market. In addition, he serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Exercise Science Department at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. Finally, he is a founding member of the Minnesota NSCA Advisory Board and was voted the 2008 Minnesota NSCA Trainer of the Year.
Jonathan Rowan, MS, CSCS
Jonathan Rowan is the Sports Performance Director of Strength and Conditioning at Davidson College. Prior to his arrival at Davidson, Rowan spent three seasons as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Canisius College. He joined the Golden Griffins’ staff in September of 2008. Rowan came to Canisius after serving as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) for 10 years. At RPI, he was responsible for designing, teaching, and implementing year-round training and conditioning for the Engineers’ 23 varsity sports. Rowan has also served as a consultant for player performance for the Albany Conquest, an arena football team.
Loren Seagrave
Loren Seagrave is one of the most renowned speed coaches in the world. In 1998, he began working as a speed and conditioning coach with the Atlanta Falcons during the off-season training program, and helped propel them to the Super Bowl. Seagrave has also worked with numerous runners and triathletes on increasing running efficiency. Establishing a reputation in track and field as one of the best sprint and hurdle coaches in the world, Seagrave has worked with countless Olympic and World Champions. He is founder of Velocity Sports Performance, a franchise that teaches young athletes how to be faster and improve their athleticism so they can get off the bench and into the game.
Carwyn Sharp, PhD, CSCS, RSCC
Carwyn Sharp earned his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Management and Prescription at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. He then obtained his Master’s degree in Exercise Science from Ball State University, and a Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Texas Medical Branch. Sharp has worked in academia as an Assistant Professor and full-time lecturer. He worked for Wyle Laboratories at NASA Johnson Space Center where he oversaw the implementation, reporting, and archiving of exercise science experiments. Sharp has been coaching for 14 years in sports from rugby to triathlons, and most recently was the Head Performance coach at Elite Training 4 Athletes. He has spoken at many national and international events, and interviewed for publications like Runner’s World and the New York Times. He has authored and co-authored numerous articles, manuscripts, and abstracts, has been a CSCS-certified member of the NSCA since 2003, and achieved RSCC distinction.
Meg Stone, PhD, FNSCA
Meg Stone is a two-time Olympian that competed in the discus for Great Britain. Stone competed for the University of Arizona and still holds the NCAA record outdoors in both shot put and discus. In 1994, she took the position of Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Arizona working with all NCAA sports, including football. She then moved to Texas Tech and held the same position. In 1996, she moved back into full-time track and field as the Associate Head Coach at Appalachian State University. In 1999, she returned to her native Scotland to become the National Track & Field Coach and the first woman ever to do so. Before moving to Johnson City, she was the Coaching Manager for the United States Olympic Committee. Recently, she was presented with the prestigious “Legends in the Field Award” by the College Strength Coaches Association, the only woman to be honored. In November 2008, Stone was appointed the Director of the Center of Excellence for Sport Science and Coach Education. She is a Fellow of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and in July 2009 received the honor of being the NSCA Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
Mike Szemborski, CSCS
Michael Szemborski is the Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports at the University of Maryland and is entering his fifth year at the University of Maryland as a full-time strength coach, and is in his eighth year overall at Maryland. He was named Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports in August 2011. Szemborski is currently responsible for oversight of 18 of the Olympic sports at Maryland. During his time on the Maryland staff, Szemborski has worked as the top assistant for football for three seasons. Along with his football responsibilities, Szemborski has worked as the Head Strength Coach for men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, women’s basketball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, volleyball, cross country, women’s golf, acrobatics and tumbling, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, field hockey, softball, baseball, and gymnastics. Prior to coming to Maryland, Szemborski spent three years as a volunteer assistant and one year as a part-time assistant at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. Szemborski is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) through the NSCA. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Longwood University in 2007.
Lee Taylor, CSCS, USAW
Lee Taylor came to the University of Tennessee in the summer of 2012 as an Assistant Football Strength Coach. Taylor graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training and Exercise Science from Missouri Valley College in May of 2008. Taylor is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® as well as a United States Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach. Taylor is also a member of the NSCA and CSCCA.
Leo Totten, MS, USAW
Leo Totten was the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games Team Leader for weightlifting. He was the U.S.A. Coach for numerous Pan Am Games and World Championships for weightlifting. Totten is a certified USAW Senior International Coach (Level 5) and is the Head Coach of the East Coast Gold weightlifting team who have been Men’s and Women’s National Team Champions numerous times. He is also a personal coach for many regional, national, and international weightlifters as well as high school and collegiate athletes. His new “Totten Training Systems” is available for clinics, conferences, consulting, and certifications.
Bryan Van Vleet
Bryan Van Vleet serves as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Ensworth High School. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee (UT) where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He worked for several years as an Assistant Strength Coach in the Men’s Athletic Department at UT. Van Vleet joined the Ensworth community from the McCallie School in Chattanooga where he was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach since 2005. His responsibilities included the development and implementation of strength, speed, and agility training programs for 14 teams. Van Vleet holds certifications with Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association and USA Weightlifting.
Reed Wainwright, CSCS, NSCA-CPT
Reed Wainwright has experience as a strength and conditioning coach at both the collegiate and professional levels, which include stints at the University of Southern Mississippi, Louisiana State University, Auburn University, Texas Christian University, and the San Diego Padres professional baseball organization. Reed has served as a Director of Compliance and has been an Associate Professor on the collegiate level. Reed currently owns the Law Office of Reed Wainwright in Weatherford, TX and has provided legal services for over 1,100 clients.
Mark Watts, MS, CSCS, RSCC
Mark Watts is the Director of Strength and Conditioning, a Physical Education Instructor, and Assistant Football Coach at Denison University. Watts has been a strength and conditioning coach at the collegiate level for the last 15 years and previously coached athletes at the United States Military Academy, the Ohio State University, the University of Tulsa, Allegheny College, and Clarion University.
Matthew Wenning, MS
Matthew Wenning is one of the best powerlifters of his generation, totaling over 2,600 lb on various occasions, and winning top national and world-level competitions. He was one of the youngest lifters to squat 900 lb, and one of the youngest lifters to break an all-time world record 2,665 lb total and a world squat record of 1,196 lb in the 308-lb weight class. Both his squat and total are some of the best all-time records regardless of weight. He owns a performance center in Columbus, OH called Ludus Magnus, and has worked with multiple National Football League (NFL) players, U.S. Army Rangers, firefighters, triathletes, and general populations. His experiences with firefighters include being a Strength and Wellness Coordinator for Washington Township Fire Department in Dublin OH, where he implemented a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning program for over 130 firefighters. He lowered injury rates and increased performance significantly for the department from 2008 to present. He also has current contracts with the U.S. Army Special Forces to aid them in training optimally. This led into major contracts with the Army itself, and he served Ft. Carson 4th Brigade as the Director of Mountain Athlete Warrior (MAW) program and is a co-founder of the program. Along with training firefighters, and the U.S. Army, he also works with children with disabilities, seniors to slow the aging process and give a higher quality of life, and others seeking performance increases both on the field and on the sidelines. He currently trains a handful of NFL players and is a consultant for many colleges, and some professional sports teams. He has over 12,000 hr of experience as a Division I college strength coach in a variety of sports including football, track, swimming, and baseball. Through his 6-year college term, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology in 2003, and a Master of Science degree in Sport Biomechanics 2005.
Megan Young, MEd, CSCS, USATF, USAW
As a native of Durham, NC, Megan Young attended the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Science. She competed there as a NCAA Division I, varsity student-athlete, earning multiple awards in the discus and shot put events. She went on to Baylor University to complete her Master’s degree in Exercise Science, with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning. During that time, she was a graduate teaching assistant and interned with the Baylor Athletic Performance Staff. Her duties were to assist with football and most Olympic sports teams. Young is currently in her third year at Auburn University and is directly responsible for yearlong programming and implementation of all strength and conditioning activities for the women’s soccer and women’s basketball programs. Young is the Public Relations Director, as well as serves on the Board of Directors for the Young Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (YSCCA). She has worked with multiple SEC conference and NCAA championship teams as well as professional athletes. Young is currently working towards a PhD in Education at Auburn University.