Jimmy Stitz Named Head Olympic Sport Strength and Conditioning Coach for Utah State Athletics

Utah State Vice President and Director of Athletics John Hartwell announced Wednesday, June 9, the hiring of Jimmy Stitz as the Head Olympic Sport Strength and Conditioning Coach for Aggie Athletics.

"When I was first approached about the role, I knew it had the potential to be something special. After going through the process, meeting the people involved, and learning about the University, I knew it was the right opportunity for me and my family," said Stitz. "I am just incredibly grateful and humbled by the opportunity to join the Aggie staff and continue to build upon the tradition that is already here."

Stitz comes to Utah State after spending the past eight seasons as an athletic performance coach for USA Volleyball Women's Senior National Team. Stitz spent his first season with the program as a seasonal assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2014 through the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) mentorship program. He took the reins of the team in 2015 prior to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the team earned a bronze medal.

Prior to joining the USA Volleyball staff, Stitz worked as an intern at the former Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. Additionally, he was selected from a pool of national candidates to serve as an assistant coach through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) assistantship program in 2013.

Stitz graduated from California State Fullerton with a master's degree in kinesiology in 2013, adding to his bachelor's degree in 2011 from Minnesota State University, Mankato in exercise science and a minor in athletic training. It was at Minnesota State that he cut his teeth from 2009-11 working as a volunteer assistant strength and conditioning coach primarily with the Mavericks' baseball, basketball, hockey and football teams.

While earning his master's, Stitz was the first-ever head strength and conditioning coach for Charter Oak High School in Covina, Calif., where he grew the number of teams using the weight room from one to six in just 16 months.

Stitz is also a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blue belt and enjoys training in his free time.

Stitz was married in 2020 to his wife, Alex, and welcomed their first child, Sloane, in March of 2021.

For more on Utah State athletics, fans can follow the Aggies on Twitter (@usuathletics) or on Facebook by searching Utah State Athletics.