Jason Smelser was named the Head Athletic Performance Coach in May 2021.
• May 18, 2021 | Named Head Athletic Performance Coach
• Spent seven years at Central Oklahoma (UCO) and three at Henderson State, coaching football and working in strength and conditioning, along with time at Concordia (MI) and Iowa Wesleyan
• Helped the UCO football program to four winning seasons to go along with back-to-back Great American Conference titles at Henderson State
• Was named Samson Equipment's NCAA-II Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by American Football Monthly in 20212
• Has worked with five national champions, two athletes who participated in the U.S. Championships and one who attended the Olympic Trials.
• Registered Strength & Conditioning Coach with Distinction (NSCA)
• Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist with Distinction (NSCA)
• Functional Movement Systems - Level 1
• CPR/AED
• Altis Foundations
• US Center for Safe Sport
• USAW Sports Performance Level 1
• Altis Need for Speed Course
• Played collegiate football at Southern Arkansas where he was a four-year letterwinner, earning All-Gulf South Conference honors once.
• A native of Monroe, Louisiana
• Earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Kinesiology from Southern Arkansas
• Married to wife Wendy and has two children, Madison and Slade
