Football

SVSU Hires Chris Winter as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach

Chris Winter joins the SVSU Athletic Department as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach...

Posted: Feb 04, 2016

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Saginaw Valley State University Athletic Director Mike Watson has announced the hiring of Chris Winter as the department's new Strength & Conditioning Coach. Winter brings with him a proven track record and tremendous amount of experience that will prove crucial in the development of Cardinal student-athletes.

Watson commented on Winter's appointment and talked about the importance of this position being added back into the mix at SVSU...

"We are extremely excited to welcome Chris aboard as a member of our athletic department family," said Watson. "He brings a level of expertise that our department needs in helping our student-athletes grow physically and mentally, which will aide in restoring team success and elevate our athletic programs to the heights that are expected here at Saginaw Valley State University."

Winter served as the Associate Director of Sports Performance for the Redbirds, 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 talked about his new position at SVSU, which will begin Monday, February 8th...

"I am excited and humbled to accept the position of Head Strength and Conditioning coach at SVSU. I want to thank Athletic Director Mike Watson, Executive Vice President Jim Muladore and the hiring committee at Saginaw Valley State for the opportunity to discuss our vision for the future of Cardinal Strength and Conditioning. The genuine quality of the coaching staff, faculty and support staff as professionals and people dramatically contributed to my decision to accept the position at SVSU. My family and I are eager to begin our lives as members of the Cardinal community and thank all members of the Athletic Department that have already been so welcoming."

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, will reside in the area, with their son, Conley.