Chris Winter is currently in his sixth full season as the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance / Head Strength and Conditioning Coach in 2021-22. He was hired in February of 2016 to head-up the department's strength & conditioning / performance programs.  

Winter came to SVSU from Illinois State University, where he served as Associate Director of Sports Performance for four years, working with programs designed and implemented specifically for basketball and volleyball, aside from working with the football program as well while at Illinois State. Prior to his time at Illinois State, he served as an assistant strength coach at North Dakota State University. Before his time at North Dakota State, Winter was a graduate assistant and also the Interim Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Western Illinois from January 2010-December 2011.

Additionally, Winter served as both a strength and conditioning coordinator at Division III Eureka College, Eureka, IL during the winter of 2008 and at East Peoria Community High School in East Peoria, IL from 2007-2008 and again in 2009. Winter served as a sports performance coach at Eastside Centre in East Peoria, IL and directed the first summer strength and conditioning camp from 2007-2009.

Winter graduated with a Masters degree in Exercise Science from Western Illinois University in 2011. Winter completed his undergraduate degree from Bradley University in Administration of Criminal Justice / Political Science in 2007. He also attended Eureka College from Fall 2008 - Spring 2009 and was a member of the Red Devil Football Team. He is certified through the NSCA as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (SCCC), and is Level-1 Certified through the United States Weightlifting Association.

Winter and his wife, Rachel, reside in the area, with their son, Conley.