WICHITA, Kan. — Stryder Blackburn has been named head strength and conditioning coach at Newman University, athletic director Vic Trilli announced Wednesday.

Blackburn will develop and oversee the training programs for all 18 varsity sports the Jets offer.

He has spent the past four years as a strength and condition coach with Wichita State, working with basketball, volleyball, softball, tennis, golf and track and field teams. He also worked with the University of Kansas football team as an intern during the summer of 2017.

"We're thrilled to keep building on our strength and condition programs with the addition of Stryder," Trilli said. "In the few days he's been around campus already this summer, he's brought a renewed passion, and his experience with multiple different teams is sure to make an impact on the training regimen of all our student-athletes."

Blackburn holds a SCCC certification through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, as well as a CSCS certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. In addition, he is a Level 1 Sports Performance Coach through USA Weightlifting, and a Level 1 Nutrition Coach through Precision Nutrition.

"I'm super excited to get started at Newman and build things from the ground up," Blackburn said. "I think this is a special place where we can create a tight-knit, family atmosphere in the weight room. We're looking for all our student-athletes to become more accountable and disciplined, skills they'll be able to take into their future."

Blackburn played two seasons of collegiate baseball at Brown Mackie College in 2011 and 2012, playing corner infield and pitcher and earning academic honors both years.

The Mulvane native holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in exercise science from Wichita State, earning his graduate degree in May 2018.