Associate AD of Olympic Sports Performance
Coach Powers was born and raised in Blandford, Massachusetts where she was involved in athletics from an early age. That led her to West Virginia Wesleyan College where she was a four-year letter winner and team captain for the Women's Basketball team. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Health Promotion and Fitness Management and a Minor in Business, Coach Powers then earned her Master's in Educational Administration from Bowling Green State University.
Coach Powers began her career in strength and conditioning as an intern for Jerry Shreck at Bucknell University in 2003. That internship was followed by stints at The University of Notre Dame, Columbia University and Bowling Green State before she landed at The University of Cincinnati in 2008. Coach Powers currently serves as the Associate Athletic Director for Olympic Sports Performance and Nutrition. She is the first woman to achieve this title.
At UC, Coach Powers works closely with women's basketball and volleyball while overseeing four full time strength coaches, six interns and the nutrition department. As a certified Yoga Fit instructor, since 2011, she also conducts yoga sessions with all UC athletic teams.
Coach Powers earned her Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association Certification in 2005 under the mentoring of Thomas Sheehan of Columbia University. She takes pride in maintaining a high standard for both the physical and character development of all student athletes. She strives for each athlete to have a clear and meaningful understanding of character, accountability and professionalism.
Coach Powers would like to thank Jerry Shreck for giving her the opportunity to enter this field, Mickey Marotti for bringing her onboard to learn from the best, Thomas Sheehan for being a great mentor, Aaron Hillman for demonstrating tough love and advocacy of women in the field, Dave Andrews for his integrity, Joe Walker for allowing her to be a working mom and her staff for making her better every day.
Most importantly, Coach Powers would like to thank her amazing family: her husband, Joe, for understanding the importance of female leadership and her children, Isabelle and Brody, who understand that they share her time with hundreds of student athletes.
