Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Whitney Rodden is in her tenth year as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU). She works directly with Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Soccer, Volleyball, Softball, Baseball, Track and Field, Cheerleading, and with Football for nine of those years. Whitney also runs an Olympic weightlifting club team, and is a Level 2 coach.
She began her career doing as a G.A. at Kansas State University working under Coach Rod Cole. After a year at KSU, she had the opportunity to work for three years as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Kansas, where she was directly involved with the Track & Field, Women's Rowing, Women's Soccer, Men's & Women's Golf, Women's Tennis and Women's Swimming & Diving teams. While at KU, she was a part of the Women's Soccer team that won a Big 12 conference title and reached the Sweet Sixteen.
While the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for MNU, Whitney has prepared her team to win 24 conference championships, 17 conference tournament championships, and 39 national tournament appearances, including a Men's Basketball National Title in 2007 and the 2016 Women's Basketball National Championship! One of her weightlifters also competed at the World University Championship in Thailand. Whitney has coached 67 athletes to all-American honors within their sport. She has also mentored numerous strength and conditioning interns who have gone on to great success in the field and she is so appreciative of their time & effort!
Whitney would like to thank God for all the opportunities He has provided, as well as her husband Geoff and kids Cole, Kinsley, & Harper (who turned one today!) for their support of the many hours spent away from home. She is also profoundly grateful to her mother and late father who taught her hard work as she grew up on their farm as well as all of their help in so many ways. Whitney is also indebted to her predecessor and mentor Coach Cross for his friendship and guidance. She feels truly blessed!
Finally, Whitney would like to thank all her athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, interns and family members for their love and support. Relationships are what drives her passion for coaching. There is nothing quite like watching your athletes face life day-after-day and year-after-year. It is amazing to see them rise and fall, laugh and cry, work and study and make it through to have a marriage, family, and success in life. She is blessed and honored to have had the opportunity to impact the lives of hundreds of student-athletes, who have positively enriched her so much in their time together.
