Certification Boards

John Stephanski

MSCC

John Stephanski began his career as a strength and conditioning coach while completing his undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at the University of Kentucky. Under the direction of Strength Coach Shaun Brown, Stephanski worked with the 1992-93 Final Four Men's Basketball program. Upon graduating in May from the University of Kentucky, Coach Stephanski was hired by Western Kentucky University to work with the Men's Basketball program. Coach Stephanski was the first strength and conditioning coach hired at WKU. Two years later after completing a Master's Degree in the spring of '95, Coach Stephanski was hired full-time and put in charge of 17 of the 18 athletic programs at the University. Football, at the time, had a position coach in charge of the strength and conditioning duties. Fourteen years later, WKU has a full-time strength and conditioning staff, including 5 coaches and numerous graduate assistants and interns who are responsible for all strength and conditioning programs at WKU. Currently, Coach Stephanski is directly responsible for all aspects of strength and conditioning for Women's Basketball, Volleyball, Men's and Women's Swimming, and he assists with Football.

Coach Stephanski will begin his 17th year as a strength and conditioning coach at WKU in July. While at WKU, Coach Stephanski has been part of 17 Sun Belt Conference Championships, 13 Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championships, 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, 1 Sweet Sixteen appearance, and 7 WNIT tournament appearances. He has also been fortunate to train numerous athletes that have moved on to the NBA, WNBA, and PGA.

Coach Stephanski is Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified through the CSCCa and is a Crossfit Level I Instructor/Trainer. He and his wife Melissa reside in Bowling Green, Kentucky and have three children: Chandler (11) and twins Bradan and Cadan(5). Coach Stephanski would not be where he is today without the support of many coaches and administrators along the way. He would like to thank Shaun Brown, Jim Nowell, Ralph Willard, Paul Sanderford, Mary Taylor Cowles, and Dr. Wood Selig for their support.