Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Tony Rolinski has been a veteran member of the University of Notre Dame strength and conditioning staff since 1998. He is currently responsible for the development and implementation of the strength and conditioning programming for 25 Irish varsity sports while continuing to have day-to-day oversight for the men's basketball and hockey teams. A practitioner and educator, Rolinski has 20 years of experience in the field of strength and conditioning.
Tony's journey into strength and conditioning began in 1994 when he served as a strength and conditioning intern for the University of Pittsburgh football team and head football coach Johnny Majors. There, he helped execute all aspects of the strength and conditioning program under the direction of head strength coach Tim Wilson. Following his stint at Pittsburgh from 1996-97, Tony was the head strength and conditioning coach at North Hills High School in Pittsburgh until he became Duquesne University's first full-time head strength and conditioning coach where he implemented and oversaw programs for 20 varsity sports. In 1998, Tony accepted a position at the University of Notre Dame, becoming an assistant strength coach under Mickey Marotti, working directly with men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's lacrosse, and men's tennis while assisting with football. Since his career at Notre Dame began, Tony has also held the titles of Assistant and Associate Director before being promoted to his current position of Director in July of 2010. During his 16 years at Notre Dame, Rolinski has been blessed to be associated with a combined 12 conference championships, 5 conference tournament championships, a College World Series (baseball 2001), a National Championship (women's basketball 2001), and 2 men's ice hockey Frozen Fours.
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rolinski received his bachelor's degree in health education with a minor in exercise science from Penn State University in 1991 and his Master's degree in exercise physiology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1995. Rolinski obtained the SCCC certification in 2001 from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association and his CSCS in 1995 from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Rolinski and his wife Julie, have two daughters, Allie and Jaclyn, and two sons, Jake and Jared.
Tony would like to thank his current staff of Elisa Angeles, Craig Cheek, Kaitlin Sweeney, Matt Howley, Glenn Clarke, and Geoff Puls for their loyalty and determination and a special thanks to Mickey Marotti, Al Johnson, Ken Mannie, and Mike Vorkapich for their leadership, friendship and support over the years.
