NSU Horizons Fall 2010

Athletics To stay alive, some sharks must remain in constant mo- tion. To gain an edge on their competitors, NSU Sharks student-athletes are in con- stant motion, getting stronger and faster in a dedicated strength and conditioning program that stands apart from most National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II schools. NSU’s strength and con- ditioning program was added in 2006 as part of the Athletics Department’s mission to build champions and provide the resources for NSU student- athletes to succeed. With a staff of two full-time coaches and two graduate assistant coaches, the program is the largest of any school NSU competes against in the Sun- shine State Conference. And the results are paying off. “It is not an accident that our teams have improved since the inception of the strength and conditioning program,” said Michael Mominey , NSU’s director of athletics. “The physical- ity of our teams is evident, and this has translated to the mental toughness of our athletes.” The staff, led by head strength and conditioning coach Shelton Stevens , provides each of NSU’s 17 men’s and women’s athletic teams with year-round programs tailored to each individual sport. Staff members work with assigned teams in the weight room and on the practice fields, and the work is done preseason, in season, and off-season. Many student-athletes even participate during the summer. Those who don’t are pro- vided a manual with their workout requirements and a log to record their progress. The program’s goals are more than just adding strength and improving fitness. The coaches also focus on preventing injuries, proper nutrition, and the psychological aspects of competition. “During the season, the teams lose some hard fought games,” said Stevens, who previously worked with strength staffs at Florida State University and Louisiana State University. “We work on the mental aspect and help them bounce back.” The benefits of a strength and conditioning program that is unequaled at many schools NSU competes against are not lost on the coaches. “It’s taken a burden off the coaches,” said head softball coach Lesa Boneé . “I don’t have to get the players into the weight room, and the players get to spend quality time with someone who is certified in strength and conditioning and knows more in that area than I do.” Boneé also sees the results in games. Her team led the Sunshine State Conference in steals in 2009, swiping 112 bases—35 more than any team in the conference. “We are very aggressive. We love to run,” Boneé said. “To do that, we need strength and power. Having someone monitoring the strength and conditioning of our team and our develop- ment has really helped us.” 38 horizons By Alan Hancock Giving the Sharks Their Strength