Strength & Conditioning Staff

 

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Greg Werner, MS, MSCC, RSCC*E, CSCS*D, SCCC, ACSM-HFI, CSNC

Head Strength & Conditioning Coach

Men's and Women's Basketball, and Field Hockey

Teaching Faculty, School of Kinesiology and Recreation Studies

Member of JMU Honor Council

Member of the CSCCa Board of Directors

 

  Greg Werner became the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at James Madison University in 1995 after working as an assistant in the program the previous three years. He received his Masters degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science from JMU (’94). He became interested in speed, strength and conditioning while earning his Bachelor’s degree in Human Performance with an emphasis in Exercise Science at Austin Peay State University (’91). In his tenure as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at JMU, Werner has grown the program from himself and one part-time assistant working out of two weightrooms (total 5,000 sq.ft.) with 28 sports to its impressive size now, with himself, a full-time Football Strength & Conditioning Coach, and four full-time assistants working out of five weightrooms and a couple multi-purpose/cardio rooms (19,800 sq.ft.) with 19 teams.  In addition to directing JMU's strength & conditioning program Coach Werner is the faculty instructor for the School of Kinesiology's Concepts of Strength & Conditioning course (KIN 425).  Before coming to JMU Werner coached for one year at the University of The Pacific in Stockton, California, and was an assistant at Austin Peay State University for two years.  Outside of the collegiate ranks Coach Werner has instructed several NFL, MLB, Pro Basketball and Olympic athletes.  In 2006 Coach Werner received the highest professional honor by earning the title of Master Strength & Conditioning Coach from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. That same year he was nominated by his peers to be a finalist for the NSCA's College Strength & Conditioning Professional of the Year Award.  In 2005 he received the highest honor from the National Strength & Conditioning Association and earned the Coach Practitioner distinction.  In 1999 he was selected the National Strength & Conditioning Association, Colonial Athletic Association Strength & Conditioning Professional of the Year, and was nominated for the National Professional of the year award.  Also in 1999, he was selected to be the Strength & Conditioning specialist for the US National Field Hockey team.  Werner has been active in the National Strength & Conditioning Association for several years, he served as the Virginia State Director for the maximum term, and has been an active speaker at the NSCA Sport Specific Training Conference, CSCS Symposium and several other coaches clinics and camps.  In 2014 the NSCA honored Coach Werner with the Registered Strength & Conditioning Coach *Emiritus distinction and awarded him the honorary 20 year ring.  In addition to his coaching and teaching Werner has published over 30 articles in various coaching journals and magazines, and is the webmaster for this website.  Coach Werner is a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, is Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified through the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association, an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Health/Fitness Instructor, International Sports Medicine Association Certified Sports Nutrition Consultant, as well as a Nike SPARQ Certified Trainer.  Coach Werner is the President of AthElite Strength & Conditioning services, a training and consulting business.  He and his wife Cyndi have two children, Hans Christian (20) and Heidi Faith (18).   

 

     

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Christian Carter, PhD, MS, CSCS, SCCC, USAW

Director of Strength & Conditioning

Women's Cross Country, Softball, Women's Track & Field, and Men's Soccer

Christian Carter is in his second year with JMU Strength and Conditioning for Olympic sports. He is in charge of designing and implementing programs for women's cross country, softball, women's track and field, and men’s and women’s soccer. Christian is also responsible for the development and implementation of the intern program and for overseeing the daily operations in the stadium and memorial hall weight rooms. Christian is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, he has earned the Club Coach I certificate from United States Weightlifting, and is CSCCa Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified.  His previous strength and conditioning experience comes from doing internships at the University of Wisconsin, Arizona State University, Virginia Tech, and his doctoral work at East Tennessee State University, as well as the private sector. He earned his BS in Kinesiology-Exercise Science from the University of Wisconsin, his masters in Health Promotion-Sport Performance from Virginia Tech, and his PhD in Sport Performance from East Tennessee State University where he also served as an assistant weightlifting coach at the designated US Olympic Training Site in Johnson City, TN. Dr. Carter is originally from Oak Park, IL and currently resides in Harrisonburg with his dog, Thatcher. 

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Willie Danzer, MS, CSCS

Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

Baseball, Volleyball and Women's Soccer

CSCS


Eric Foote, USAW

Junior Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

Cheerleading

CSCS  


JMU APC Strength Staff

Sports: Football, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's and Women's Golf and Men's and Women's Tennis


 

Aaron Burkart, MS, SCCC

Director of Football Strength & Conditioning

 

Aaron Burkart is in his second year with James Madison University serving as the director of football strength & conditioning.

Burkart previously worked the last two years at the University of Illinois as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for football. From 2010-2012, he worked two stints at Florida and one at West Virginia to 2012 he briefly held the same title at West Virginia concentrating on basketball. At Florida, he was responsible for assisting the Gators with baseball and football, and oversaw softball.

From 2009 to 2010 he held the same position at his alma mater Bowling Green, working with football, golf, women’s soccer, hockey, and basketball. Burkart started his professional career at Ball State, serving as an assistant strength and conditioning coach during the 2006-07 season.

Burkart played college football at Bowling Green, where he was a member of the 2003 MAC West Champion and Motor City Bowl Championship team, as well as the 2004 GMAC Bowl Championship squad. Graduating with honors in 2006, he earned his degree in education.

Burkart is originally from Columbus, Ohio where he attended Bishop Watterson High School

 

SCCC Seal

 


 

Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning (APC)

Women's Lacrosse, Men's and Women's Tennis and Football

 

 


Michael Bullis, CSCS

Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach (APC)

Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's and Women's Golf and Football

CSCS


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OTHER KEY PAST CONTRIBUTORS TO THE JMU STRENGTH & CONDITIONING PROGRAM

Nicholas Gounaris, SCCC, CSCS

Former Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

Nic worked at JMU for three years as an intern and then Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, he is now an Assistant at Florida Atlantic University. While at JMU he worked with Baseball, Men's and Women's Soccer, Volleyball and both Basketball teams.

Eric Rhodes, SCCC, CSCS 

Former Junior Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

Eric Rhodes was on the JMU staff for one solid year working as an affiliate Junior Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. He was active with all the JMU sports teams in the stadium staff coverage,

qQuintrel Lenore, SCCC, CSCS
Former Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

Quintrel started at JMU during the summer of 2012 as an Intern, and then was promoted up to Assistant.  August 2013 Coach Lenore left JMU to take the Head job at Shenandoah where he now oversees the training of all the Hornets' sports teams.

Scott Bennett, MS, MSCC, SCCC, CSCS*D

Former Senior Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach 

Bennett came to JMU in July 2011 after serving as the head strength and conditioning coach at Marshall.  Coach Bennett left JMU in Oct 2012 to become the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Radford University.

callye williamsJag Logo SmallCallye Williams, MBA, CSCS, SCCC, USAW

Former Senior Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

 June, 2008 through June 2011.   

 

Callye left JMU in 2011 to become an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Oklahoma State University.  Coach Williams worked at OSU until she left in 2013 to work at the University of South Alabama as an Assistant.

Lee RowlandLee Rowland, CSCS, SCCC, former Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

Lee came to JMU from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in August 2008.  Coach Rowland left JMU in July 2012 to become the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

 

Andrew Roeder, Former Intern/Student Assistant

 

Andrew was an outstanding student assistant coach for two years.  While attending school and working with us at JMU Coach Roeder was a proud member of the Virginia Army National Guard.  Andrew completed an internship with Coach Scott Swanson at West Point, Spring 2008.

 

 

MT LogoJason Vest, MS, SCCC, CSCS, former Intern/Student Assistant

Coach Vest served as a student assistant during his undergraduate work at JMU.

 

BCAABen Cohen, MS, CSCS, SCCC  Former Junior Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

       Ben, a JMU Kinesiology major, began as a student assistant in August 2004, worked hard and was promoted to Junior Assistant in August 2007.    Ben completed an internship with Coach Tom Moffitt and the National Champion LSU football team during the summer of 2007.  Ben then went on to pursue his Master's degree at LSU where he worked as one of Coach Moffitt's graduate assistant strength & conditioning coaches.  Ben completed his MS at LSU and then went to work assisting Coach Tom Shaw in Orlando training some of the best college football players in preparation for the NFL Combine.  Ben is now in Birmingham, AL where he owns and operates BCAA private training facility.   Ben was the recipient of the 2008 JMU Strength & Conditioning Most Outstanding Student Assistant award.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin Conlogue, MS, CSCS, SCCC, USAW

Former Senior Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

 

 Kevin began as an Assistant in August 2006 and was promoted up to Senior Assistant in August 2007.  He left JMU in April 2008 to move back to his home of Pheonix, Arizona and peursue a career as a personal strength & conditioning coach with Lifetime Fitness.  Kevin went on and earned his Law degree from Pepperdine University, and he is now a practicing Attorney in Los Angeles, CA.

Spring 2008

JMU Strength & Conditioning Interns

 

(front row) Elliott White, Rani English, Clint Fishel  (back row) Frank Tyree, Kevin Conlogue - Intern Coordinator, Bryan Buckland, Jeff Kuhland  (not pictured) Andrew Roeder, Ben Cohen, Preston Baez, Tyler Furee, and Sudan Ellington

 

Navy SEALs

Steve Bamel, MS, CSCS, SCCC, Former Senior Assistant ('05-'07)

Steve began as an Assistant in August 2005 and was promoted up to Senior Assistant in April 2006.  He left JMU to pursue the job of Strength & Conditioning Coordinator with the U.S. Olympic Committee.  Coach Bamel worked at the Chula Vista, CA (San Diego) Olympic Training Center until May 2009.  Coach Bamel left the USOTC to become the Director of Sports Performance at the College of Charleston.Amazing Moments Videos  Coach Bamel is now a strength and conditioning specialist for the U.S. Navy Seals operation out of Coronado, CA

 USAJaguars.com—Official Web Site of University of South Alabama Athletics

Elliott White, Former Intern/Student Assistant

Elliott, a JMU Kinesiology major, began as a student assistant and then performed a complete internship in the program the summer of 2008.  Elliott is now a Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of South Alabama.

LogoNathan Wehunt, CSCS, Former Assistant ('05-'07)

Nathan worked as an assistant for two years.  He left JMU to become a strength & conditioning specialist for the United States Sports Academy.  He worked with the police academy and Olympic development program in Bahrain for a little more than a year.  Coach Wehunt is now a Strength & Conditioning, and wrestling coach at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, TN.

Preston Baez, Spring 2008 practicum student from Bridgewater College

Preston was a senior practicum student at Bridgewater College, VA.   He is a double major in Allied Health Science and Nutrition and Wellness. With these degrees Preston is focusing on Strength and Conditioning and Sports Nutrition.  Preston is also a former Bridgewater College Football player, 04-06 seasons.  Preston has completed Internships for Athletes Advantage USA located in Wellington, FL., and Florida State University Strength & Conditioning where he is completing work towards his Masters degree.

Fury Performance LogoMatthew Green, MS, CSCS, SCCC, Former Senior Assistant ('03-'06)

Matt worked as a graduate assistant for one year and then was promoted up to Senior Assistant where he worked for two years.  Coach Green left JMU to become the Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.  Matt worked at UTC for three years and then left to pursue a career as a private Strength & Conditioning Coach in the Chattanooga area. His business is Fury Performance & Personal Training.   http://coachmattgreen.blogspot.com/

John Fleming, CSCS, Former Senior Student Assistant

 

   John worked as a student assistant for two years.  He completed his B.S. in kinesiology with a major in exercise leadership.  John was chosen to work at the U.S. Olympic Training Center as an Intern in Strength & Conditioning for the summer of 2006.  John went on to be a graduate assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of New Mexico.  After completing his MS at New Mexico John moved back to Richmond, VA to start a private sports performance training program.

Jefferson College of Health Sciences

Allison Baker, PhD, MS, CSCS, Former Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach ('04-05')

 

Ally worked as a GA in Strength & Conditioning for one year.  After graduating from JMU she went on to be the Fitness Director for the Roanoke Athletic Club.  Ally is now an Assistant Professor, in the Health and Exercise Science Program at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke.  She has since earned her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.
Phone: (540) 985-9943
E-mail: ahbowersock@jchs.edu

Stephanie Giammitorio  former Strength & Conditioning Intern

Stephanie completed  her BS in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science.  She is currently attending Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine at Virginia Tech.

 

Marie Bolton, Former Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach ('04-05')

 

Marie worked as an intern for one semester, and then as a GA in Strength & Conditioning for one year.  Marie is now working in Recreational Sports for the Parks & Rec.

 

  

Mike Prelewicz, ACSM-HFI, Former Student Assistant ('04-'05)

 

Mike worked as a student assistant for one year and then completed an internship working with the AthElite Academy.  Mike was the recipient of the JMU Strength & Conditioning Most Outstanding Student Assistant Award for 2004-05.  Mike left JMU to be the Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Christopher Newport University.  Mike now works for the Williamsburg Dept of Recreation as a Strength & Conditioning coach.

 

David BassDAVID BASS, MS, SCCC, CSCS, former Assistant ('02-'04)

 

David served as a graduate assistant for two years.  Coach Bass is now the Senior Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Wake Forest University.

 

Wake Forest Strength and Conditioning

HomeWes Allen, former Student Assistant ('00-'02)

 

Wes, served as a Student Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for three years while completing his BS in Kinesiology.  He left JMU to fulfill an internship at Stanford for the winter/spring of 2003.  Wes is now a Fitness Specialist and Personal Trainer at the RMH Wellness Center in Harrisonburg, VA.

CHELSEA DAILEY, MS, CSCS, former Assistant ('03-'04)

Chelsea served as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach for one year.  She now has here own business.

Donavan Almond, former student Assistant ('04)

 Donavan was an excellent student assistant and graduated from JMU and moved on to become the Fitness and Activities Manager and Personal Trainer at the highly rated Resort Spa, Solage in Calistoga (Napa Valley), California.

 755 Silverado Trail    Calistoga    CA    94515

SHANE SYKES, MS, CSCS, former Assistant ('01-'03)

Shane served as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach for two years.  Shane is currently the Sports Performance Director for Velocity Sport Performance in Richmond, Virginia.

 

HomeMelissa Lam, former student Assistant

Melissa was an excellent student Assistant for one year while working towards her BS in Kinesilogy at JMU.  She is now a Fitness Specialist and Personal Trainer at the RMH Wellness Center in Harrisonburg, VA.

D1 Sports Training

Barry Cain, MS, SCCC, CSCS, former Assistant ('02-'03)

Barry, served as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach for one year.  Coach Cain then worked as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville ('03-'06).  Barry left U.T. to be the Head Strength & Speed Coach at D1 Sports in Greenville, SC.  Coach Cain is now working for D1 in Knoxville and back at U.T. as an Assistant.

 

Dave Forman, MS, SCCC, CSCS, Former Assistant

Dave, served as a Student Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach for three years while completing his BS in Kinesiology.  Coach Forman was an integral member of the AthElite Sports Performance Academy staff ('01 and '02).  From JMU Dave moved to Los Angeles where he completed an internship with the National Champion USC Trojans with Coach Chris Carlisle and his staff.  Coach Forman then went on to complete his Masters degree working as a graduate assistant strength coach at the Ole Miss under Coach Noel Durfey.  Dave left Ole Miss and completed an internship with Notre Dame strength & conditioning during the summer of 2006.  Coach Forman went on to be the assistant at Sacramento State for one year, and then moved on to be an assistant football strength & conditioning coach at Stanford, where he worked for three years.  After Stanford Won the 2010 Orange Bowl, finishing the season 12-1, Dave moved on to be the Head Football strength & conditioning coach at San Jose State University. After working to help turn the San Jose program around from 1-12 in 2010 to 11-2 in 2012, Coach Forman has moved on to be the Director of Strength & Conditioning and Head Football Strength & Conditioning coach at the University of Colorado.

 
Mike Malone, CSCS, former Assistant ('01-'02)

Mike left JMU to become a Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Memphis. He left Memphis to become an assistant with the Anaheim Angels organization.  After working with the Angels Coach Malone went on to be an assistant at the University of Minnesota working with Men’s and Women’s Hockey, Men’s Basketball, Baseball, Track, Swimming, and Golf.  Coach Malone is now at the University of Kentucky, where he is the Strength & Conditioning Coach for Men's Basketball. 

 
Skylar Saar, former Student Assistant ('01-'02)

Skylar, served as a Student Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for one year.  He left JMU to fulfill two internships, first at the University of Maryland (summer of '02) and then at the University of Minnesota (Fall '02).  Skylar graduated from JMU in May of 2002 with his BS in Kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science.  

 
Us-special forces.svg Patrick Borkowski, MS, USAW, CSNC, former Assistant ('98-'01)

Pat left JMU to become a Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Mississippi.  He completed his Masters in Exercise Physiology in May 2002, then became a Strength & Conditioning Coordinator at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.  Coach Borkowski was promoted at the USOC to be the Strength & Conditioning Coach for all the U.S. National Teams in acrobat and combat sports.  Coach Borkowski left the USOC in November, 2008 to become USA Boxing's High Performance Director. After working for USA Boxing for a year Coach Borkowski left to work for the U.S. Army and work with the Special Forces in Germany.

 

Noel Durfey, MS, CSCS, SCCC, CSNC, former Associate ('99-'00)  

Coach Durfey left JMU to become the Coordinator of Strength & Conditioning at the University of Mississippi where he coordinated the entire program and worked specifically with football and baseball.  In the winter of 2008 Noel left Ole Miss to become the Head Football Strength & Conditioning Coach at Duke University.

 

 

Mike BasgierMike Basgier, MS, SCCC, CSCS, former Student Assistant ('99-'01)

After working as a student assistant for one year Mike left JMU to become a Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Auburn University.  After completing his MS at Auburn Mike became a Sports Performance Coach for Velocity Sport Performance in Ashburn, Virginia.  Mike left Velocity to get back into the collegiate field in 2005 when he became an assistant coach at Indiana University.  Coach Basgier left Indiana in the summer of '09 and to be Assistant Director of Strength & Conditioning at Ohio University where he was in charge of men's and women's basketball and volleyball.  In 2012 Mike left Ohio to become the Head Men's Basketball Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Illinois.

 

 

John Cox, former Student Assistant ('99-'00)

After working as a student assistant for 1 1/2 years, John left JMU to become a Graduate Assistant in the Exercise Physiology program at the University of Maryland.  He earned his Masters degree at Maryland ('02) and then went on to pursue his Ph.D. at the University of Miami.  John left Miami to attend law school at the College of William and Mary.  John is now a practicing attorney and avid mountain biker.

 

Matt Link, CSCS, former Assistant ('98-'99)

After working as the top assistant for one year Matt left JMU to become an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Kansas.  He left Kansas in June 2002 to pursue a career in orthopedic consulting.  Matt now lives in the Washington D.C. area. 

 

Christopher Newport University College AthleticsJonathon Dean, CSCS, former Student Assistant ('98-'00)

Jon is now the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the entire athletic program at Christopher Newport University.  While playing football at JMU Jon trained with Coach Werner and established school records in the bench press (500) and safety squat (900).

 

 

Navy SEALs
Zachery Weatherford, CSCS, former Assistant ('97-'98)

Coach Weatherford left JMU to become an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at The University of Mississippi (98'-'00).  He left Ole Miss to become the Strength & Conditioning Coordinator at the Arco U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California.  He left the U.S. Olympic Committee to become the Strength & Conditioning Coordinator for the United States Ski Association based out of Park City, Utah.  In the spring of 2007 Zach accepted a position to go back to work for the U.S. Olympic Committee.  Zach left the USOTC to work for the U.S. Navy and work with the Navy Seals in San Diego.

 

 

Ira Smith, Ph.D. former Graduate Assistant ('97-'98)

Dr. Smith left JMU to pursue his doctorate at The University of Florida.  He left UF to do a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University Medical School, and then left Duke to do research as a fellow at Harvard.

 

 

Jake Edwards, former Intern and Soccer Athlete ('98)

Jake was an excellent Intern for the Spring of 1998, he left JMU to pursue a professional soccer career playing for Wrexham, Wales where he is still playing in 2010.

 

Fred Hatfield, II, MS, CSCS, former Assistant ('95-'97)

Fred left JMU to become Assistant Strength & Conditioning coach at the University of Massachusetts.  He is now a Master instructor for the International Sport Sciences Association.

 

Steve Plisk, MS, CSCS, former Director of Strength & Conditioning ('91-'94)

Coach Plisk left JMU to become the Coordinator of Strength & Conditioning at the US Olympic training center in Colorado Springs.  After leaving Colorado Springs Steve became the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Memphis, and then he moved on to become the Director of Athletic Conditioning at Yale University.  Steve left Yale to become the Director of Sports Performance for Velocity Sports Performance in Connecticut. He now owns and operates Excelsior Sports Performance.

 

 

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© Copyright 2000-2003, Gregory A. Werner