April M. Rojo
Staff Writer
The athletic department has a new member. David Johnston started this fall as strength and conditioning coach.
Johnston comes from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he worked as assistant strength and conditioning coach for three years and head coach for one year.
He has also worked with the Spokane Indians minor league baseball team.
Johnston received his bachelor’s degree in exercise science at the University of Millersville in Pennsylvania and his masters in biophysical analysis at Georgia Southern University.
Apart from his educational experience, Johnston was also trained to compete in national weightlifting competitions.
“In the spring I want to start a weightlifting team on campus,” Johnston said. “The more I learned as an athlete made me a better coach.”
His responsibilities on campus include running the fitness center and focusing on the athletic teams.
“The most important thing is running a team-working atmosphere,” Johnston said.
Working with the teams Johnston wants to enhance their performance, increase their strength and to reduce any injuries.
“Weightlifting is a good workout and Johnston is very specific,” said Steven Lane, a sophomore soccer player. “He has a laid-back style, he watches and corrects you.”
“It has been a learning process with different coaches and teams,” Johnston said. “I come with different ideas and styles that the athletes are not used to.”
His job calls for skill and experience, said Athletic Director Christopher Ragsdale.
“He has all the credentials of a strength and conditioning coach,” Ragsdale said.
The athletic department plans to eventually renovate the fitness center.
“David will assist with planning and developing the fitness center to meet the needs of athletes,” Ragsdale said.
“The renovation of the fitness center should help the fitness team become stronger,” Johnston said.
“The program will create more competitive teams and make better athletes.”
Along with bringing the University of La Verne a fresh perspective, Johnston said he has many ideas to share with the athletic department.
Johnston is replacing former strength and conditioning coach Matt Durant, who accepted a job at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita.
April M. Rojo can be reached at arojo@ulv.edu.
April M. Rojo
