Ensured Consideration Date: March 30, 2026
Sub Department: Athletics
Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.
The area’s waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.
Summary
Michigan Tech, a proud member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and NCAA Division II, seeks a qualified Head Strength & Conditioning Coach to plan, coordinate, and administer strength and conditioning programs for MTU Football, Women’s Soccer, and Men’s Basketball student-athletes. This position provides leadership and oversight of all strength, conditioning, and performance programs for MTU student-athletes on these teams. The Head Strength and Conditioning Coach plays a vital role in enhancing athletic performance, reducing injury risk, and supporting the holistic development of student-athletes across the programs in collaboration with sport coaches and sports medicine staff.
Ensured Consideration Date: March 30, 2026
Sub Department: Athletics
Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.
The area’s waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.
Summary
Michigan Tech, a proud member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and NCAA Division II, seeks a qualified Head Strength & Conditioning Coach to plan, coordinate, and administer strength and conditioning programs for MTU Football, Women’s Soccer, and Men’s Basketball student-athletes. This position provides leadership and oversight of all strength, conditioning, and performance programs for MTU student-athletes on these teams. The Head Strength and Conditioning Coach plays a vital role in enhancing athletic performance, reducing injury risk, and supporting the holistic development of student-athletes across the programs in collaboration with sport coaches and sports medicine staff.
1) Plan, organize, and administer the University’s strength and conditioning program for Football, Women’s Soccer and Men’s Basketball.
2) Effectively lead, motivate, and inspire student-athletes.
3) Develop and implement sports-specific strength & conditioning programs with an emphasis on developing and improving student-athlete performance.
4) Plan, develop, and administer budgets related to weight rooms and equipment.
5) Coordinate scheduling and utilization of strength and conditioning facilities.
6) Maintain accurate records related to workouts, facility usage, and equipment inventory.
7) Maintain a collaborative relationship with the Certified Athletic Training staff.
8) Ongoing evaluation and assessments of each student-athlete to establish training goals in relation to strength, speed, power, and flexibility.
9) Work in coordination with athletic training and sports medicine staff to support injury prevention, rehabilitation, and return-to-play activities.
10) Monitor compliance with NCAA, GLIAC, University, and departmental rules and regulations.
11) Provide proper instruction and demo of all training techniques.
12) Implementation of periodized training programs for NCAA student-athletes based on skill, age, and physical attributes.
13) Supervise, train, and evaluate assistant coaches, interns, and/or graduate assistants as assigned.
14) Represent and act on behalf of the University as directed by the Athletic Director.
15) Enhance and promote the internal and external visibility and recognition of the University and the Athletic Department to a variety of alumni, and campus and off-campus groups.
16) Perform other duties as assigned to support the goals of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
17) Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University's continuous improvement initiatives.
18) Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work.
• Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, Human Performance, or other related field
• Current nationally recognized strength and conditioning certification required (e.g., CSCS, SCCC). CPR, AED, and First Aid certification required or obtained within a designated timeframe.
• Experience and demonstrated success in a collegiate-level strength and conditioning program.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the use and maintenance of fitness equipment.
• Experience in planning, developing, and administering budgets.
• Master’s degree in a related field
• Continued education outside CSCS
• Demonstrated ability to foster a positive and enthusiastic team attitude.
• Superior written and oral communication and public relations skills.
• Mental agility and dedication to ingenuity.
• Experience within a college football program
• Exceptional organizational and administrative skills.
• Demonstrated strong work ethic.
• Demonstrated commitment to comply with all NCAA rules and regulations.
• Demonstrated excellent decision-making capabilities.
• A passion for the success of student-athletes.
• Understanding of biomechanics and its application to strength and conditioning.
• Commitment to continuing education and professional development.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries
• and work harmoniously with diverse groups of students, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated commitment to contribute to a safe work environment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.
Required University Training:
• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training
• Annual Title IX Training
Background Check:
Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.
1
Non-Exempt
12 months
-
The minimum salary for this position is $45,000. The final salary will depend on experience and qualifications.
Vice President of Athletics and Recreation
Internal and External
No
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Required Education, Certifications, Licensures* (minimum requirements)
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Apply NowMichigan Technological University record compared to the conference
| School | Conference | Overall | RPI | APR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Technological University | 17–3 | 24–8 | — | — |
| Lake Superior State University | 16–4 | 30–7 | — | — |
| Ferris State University | 14–6 | 25–9 | — | — |
| Northern Michigan University | 13–7 | 22–10 | — | — |
| Wayne State University (Michigan) | 11–9 | 15–14 | — | — |
| University of Wisconsin, Parkside | 11–9 | 14–15 | — | — |
| Saginaw Valley State University | 6–14 | 10–18 | — | — |
| Roosevelt University | 6–14 | 9–20 | — | — |
| Purdue University Northwest | 3–17 | 6–23 | — | — |
| Davenport University | 1–19 | 5–23 | — | — |
| Grand Valley State University | — | — | — | — |
Michigan Technological University record compared to the conference
| School | Conference | Overall | RPI | APR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferris State University | 7–0 | 14–1 | — | — |
| Saginaw Valley State University | 4–3 | 7–4 | — | — |
| Michigan Technological University | 4–3 | 7–4 | — | — |
| Davenport University | 4–3 | 7–4 | — | — |
| Wayne State University (Michigan) | 2–5 | 2–9 | — | — |
| Roosevelt University | 1–6 | 1–9 | — | — |
| Northern Michigan University | 0–7 | 0–11 | — | — |
| Purdue University Northwest | — | — | — | — |
| University of Wisconsin, Parkside | — | — | — | — |
| Lake Superior State University | — | — | — | — |
| Grand Valley State University | — | — | — | — |
Michigan Technological University past performance
| Season | Head Coach | Assistant Coach | Conference | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-2027 |
Josh Buettner |
– | – | |
| 2025-2026 |
Josh Buettner |
– | – | |
| 2024-2025 |
Josh Buettner |
17–3 | 24–8 | |
| 2023-2024 |
Josh Buettner |
– | – | |
| 2022-2023 |
Josh Buettner |
5–13 | 10–20 | |
| 2021-2022 |
Josh Buettner |
16–4 | 21–7 | |
| 2020-2021 |
Kevin Luke |
– | 15–8 | |
| 2019-2020 |
Kevin Luke |
14–6 | 23–8 |
Michigan Technological University past performance
| Season | Head Coach | Assistant Coach | Conference | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-2027 |
Dan Mettlach |
– | – | |
| 2025-2026 |
Dan Mettlach |
– | – | |
| 2024-2025 |
Dan Mettlach |
4–3 | 7–4 | |
| 2023-2024 |
Dan Mettlach |
1–5 | 5–5 | |
| 2022-2023 |
Steve Olson |
2–4 | 4–7 | |
| 2021-2022 |
Steve Olson |
5–3 | 6–4 | |
| 2020-2021 |
Steve Olson |
– | – | |
| 2019-2020 |
Steve Olson |
3–5 | 5–5 |
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
|
Rhys Edwards |
Assistant Athletic Director - NCAA Compliance & Student-Athlete Academic Success |
|
Jada Gullstrand |
Director of Programming & Membership Services |
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
|
Riley Schreck |
Assistant Strength & Conditioning |
Jordan Ferguson |
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach |
Eric Kniess |
Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach |
|
Nate Larson |
Assistant Athletic Director - Sports Medicine (HOC) |
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
|
Rhys Edwards |
Assistant Athletic Director - NCAA Compliance & Student-Athlete Academic Success |
|
Jada Gullstrand |
Director of Programming & Membership Services |
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
Jordan Ferguson |
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach |
|
Nate Larson |
Assistant Athletic Director - Sports Medicine (HOC) |
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
|
Rhys Edwards |
Assistant Athletic Director - NCAA Compliance & Student-Athlete Academic Success |
|
Jada Gullstrand |
Director of Programming & Membership Services |
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
Jordan Ferguson |
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach |
|
Nate Larson |
Assistant AD for Sports Medicine |
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