TicketsCINCINNATI - Kelly Powers, a 10-year member of the University of Cincinnati Athletics Department and current Associate Athletic Director for Olympic Sports Performance, has been named a Master Strength & Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa). Powers was selected and recognized for the highest honor given in the strength and conditioning coaches profession in a ceremony held Thursday, May 10, at the Omni Forth Worth Hotel as part of the CSCCa National Conference.
Powers, who received her blue MSCC Jacket at the ceremony, was one of 18 coaches to earn the prestigious title of Master Strength & Conditioning Coach in 2018 and one of two women. To date, there are now 198 individuals in the nation that have attained the title of Master Strength & Conditioning Coach with just 22 (11.1 percent) being female. To earn the honor, candidates must hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree; currently working in the collegiate or professional ranks as a full-time strength & conditioning coach; be a current member of CSCCa; hold the CSCCa Certification; and have been a full-time coach in the collegiate and/or professional ranks for a minimum of 12 years.
"Kelly is very deserving of this prestigious honor," Maggie McKinley, Executive Senior Associate AD/SWA at UC, said. "Her role as Associate Director of Athletics for Olympic Sports Performance has been vital in our Department's vision of being Class of the League. Her extensive knowledge and out-the-box thinking in strength & conditioning and sports nutrition supports our coaches in their quest to recruit, retain and develop our student-athletes. We are very proud of all Kelly has accomplished in her career and congratulate her on receiving this high distinction."
"This is an incredible honor for Kelly," CSCCa Executive Director Dr. Chuck Stiggins said. "Being named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach signifies a commitment to the student-athlete, the University of Cincinnati athletic program, and the strength and conditioning profession. We are honored to have Coach Powers as a member of our association and to have her join the ranks of the Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches. She is truly a model of an outstanding strength and conditioning professional."
A native of Blandford, Mass., Powers was an accomplished student-athlete, playing four years and serving as a team captain for the basketball team at Wet Virginia Wesleyan College. Following her graduation from WVWC with a degree in Health Promotion and Fitness Management, Powers went on to earn her Master's in Educational Administration from Bowling Green State University.
Following her academic pursuits, Powers opened her strength & conditioning coaching career in 2003 as she served as an intern under Jerry Shreck at Bucknell. Powers' coaching path then took her to Notre Dame, Columbia and a return to BGSU before she joined the staff at UC in 2008. A CSCCa Certification holder since 2005, Powers' duties with the Bearcats see her work closely with the women's basketball and volleyball programs while overseeing four full-time strength coaches, six interns and the nutrition department. A certified Yoga Fit instructor since 2011, Powers also conducts yoga sessions with all UC athletics teams.
The 18 coaches who earned the Master honor this year include Powers (University of Cincinnati); John D. Ciani (University of New Hampshire); Tyler Clarke (Vanderbilt University); Jon-Michael Davis (Eastern Kentucky University); Michelle Diltz (University of Alabama); Lou Hernandez (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill); Travis Illian (Southern Utah University); Derrick Jenkins (University of Texas at San Antonio); Kaz Kazadi (Southern Methodist University); Jim Kramer (North Dakota State University); James Krumpos (University of Arizona); Johnny Long (Carson Newman University); Timothy Mullen (Harvard University); Michael Schweigert (Northwestern University); Joshua Storms (University of Memphis); Joel Tudman (Oklahoma State University); Curtis Turner (Georgia Institute of Technology); and Matthew Turner (University of Mississippi).
Powers, who received her blue MSCC Jacket at the ceremony, was one of 18 coaches to earn the prestigious title of Master Strength & Conditioning Coach in 2018 and one of two women. To date, there are now 198 individuals in the nation that have attained the title of Master Strength & Conditioning Coach with just 22 (11.1 percent) being female. To earn the honor, candidates must hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree; currently working in the collegiate or professional ranks as a full-time strength & conditioning coach; be a current member of CSCCa; hold the CSCCa Certification; and have been a full-time coach in the collegiate and/or professional ranks for a minimum of 12 years.
"Kelly is very deserving of this prestigious honor," Maggie McKinley, Executive Senior Associate AD/SWA at UC, said. "Her role as Associate Director of Athletics for Olympic Sports Performance has been vital in our Department's vision of being Class of the League. Her extensive knowledge and out-the-box thinking in strength & conditioning and sports nutrition supports our coaches in their quest to recruit, retain and develop our student-athletes. We are very proud of all Kelly has accomplished in her career and congratulate her on receiving this high distinction."
"This is an incredible honor for Kelly," CSCCa Executive Director Dr. Chuck Stiggins said. "Being named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach signifies a commitment to the student-athlete, the University of Cincinnati athletic program, and the strength and conditioning profession. We are honored to have Coach Powers as a member of our association and to have her join the ranks of the Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches. She is truly a model of an outstanding strength and conditioning professional."
A native of Blandford, Mass., Powers was an accomplished student-athlete, playing four years and serving as a team captain for the basketball team at Wet Virginia Wesleyan College. Following her graduation from WVWC with a degree in Health Promotion and Fitness Management, Powers went on to earn her Master's in Educational Administration from Bowling Green State University.
Following her academic pursuits, Powers opened her strength & conditioning coaching career in 2003 as she served as an intern under Jerry Shreck at Bucknell. Powers' coaching path then took her to Notre Dame, Columbia and a return to BGSU before she joined the staff at UC in 2008. A CSCCa Certification holder since 2005, Powers' duties with the Bearcats see her work closely with the women's basketball and volleyball programs while overseeing four full-time strength coaches, six interns and the nutrition department. A certified Yoga Fit instructor since 2011, Powers also conducts yoga sessions with all UC athletics teams.
The 18 coaches who earned the Master honor this year include Powers (University of Cincinnati); John D. Ciani (University of New Hampshire); Tyler Clarke (Vanderbilt University); Jon-Michael Davis (Eastern Kentucky University); Michelle Diltz (University of Alabama); Lou Hernandez (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill); Travis Illian (Southern Utah University); Derrick Jenkins (University of Texas at San Antonio); Kaz Kazadi (Southern Methodist University); Jim Kramer (North Dakota State University); James Krumpos (University of Arizona); Johnny Long (Carson Newman University); Timothy Mullen (Harvard University); Michael Schweigert (Northwestern University); Joshua Storms (University of Memphis); Joel Tudman (Oklahoma State University); Curtis Turner (Georgia Institute of Technology); and Matthew Turner (University of Mississippi).