July 27, 2010

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University Director of Athletics Troy Austin has announced the recent appointment of John Hark as the school's new Director of Strength and Conditioning. He previously served as director of strength and conditioning for Olympic sports at Marshall University since 2007. Hark was a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Thundering Herd during 2006-07.

“John is a great addition to the Longwood Athletics Family,” explained Austin. “He has a great passion for the field of strength and conditioning as well as quality experiences not only as a student-athlete but professionally as well. I am certain John will advance our strength training for the Lancers.”

At Marshall, Hark directed the Henderson Center Olympic Weight Room while responsible for the design and implementation of strength, speed, agility, plyometric, conditioning, flexibility and nutrition programs for 13 sports. He served as an advisor to student-athletes on correct strength training techniques in both group and one-on-one settings, while other responsibilities included supervising a staff of graduate assistants and interns, maintaining equipment, and scheduling workouts.

“I am honored to take over the position of Director of Strength and Conditioning at Longwood University,” said Hark. “I am very passionate about sports performance enhancement and the development of athleticism through strength and conditioning, and am very excited to have the opportunity to help build upon the success of all of Longwood's athletics programs.”

Hark completed a strength and conditioning internship at his alma mater, Binghamton University in New York, during 2005-06. He assisted strength and conditioning coaches in all aspects of training student-athletes, including implementation and supervision of in-season strength, speed, agility, flexibility, and nutrition programs for men's and women's cross country, in-season core workouts for men's and women's track and field, and off-season programs for men's and women's swimming and diving. Hark advised student-athletes on correct strength training techniques in one-on-one and group settings, provided weight room supervision and maintenance, as well as organization and preparation of workout packets for all teams.

A native of Wyckoff, New Jersey, Hark earned his Bachelor of Science degree in human development from Binghamton where he was a three-year member of the baseball team. He is certified through both the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association and the National Strength & Conditioning Association. Hark is scheduled to earn his Master of Science degree in exercise physiology at Marshall in August 2010.