Barriers that Face Today's Strength and Conditioning Coach
My journey and what to expect as you pursue your dream to become a collegiate strength and conditioning coach.
Jen Jones was hired as director of strength & conditioning June 12, 2017. She oversees all sports other than football.Jones came to Purdue from Texas A&M, where she served as assistant director of strength & conditioning from 2004 to 2017, working with the women's basketball program.
In 2011, Jones was named Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (MSCC) by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. The designation is the highest honor that can be achieved as a strength & conditioning coach, representing professionalism, knowledge, experience and expertise, as well as longevity in the field. Jones is one of merely eighteen women to earn the title.Jones' other experience includes serving as head strength coach for women's athletics at the University of Arkansas (2001-04) and as an assistant strength & conditioning coach at the University of Houston (1997-2000).
At Houston, Jones was responsible for the development and implementation of team and individualized conditioning programs for all Olympic sports. She designed separate programs for weight training, agility, speed and flexibility. She also supervised undergraduate and graduate staff while maintaining the facility.A 1995 graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science, Jones worked as a graduate assistant at East Carolina in 1996-97, working with the men's basketball, football, soccer, softball, track & field, and volleyball programs. She earned a Master of Science degree in sport management from Texas A&M in 2015.
A native of Toronto, Jones played volleyball at Michigan State from 1990 to 1994. She was team captain and Most Valuable Player and an All-Big Ten selection. At the conclusion of her career, he owned several school records. Jones recorded a triple-double with 14 kills, 10 blocks and 18 digs vs. Indiana on Oct. 4, 1991.Jones has six children: Michael, Ellis, Jose, Ariel, Vivian and Adriana.
