Steve Schulz joined Nebraska-Kearney Athletics in December 2016 and serves as the Director of Sport Performance.
A two-time national finalist for the NSCA (Strength and Conditioning Assoc.) Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year, Schulz most recently was at Hastings College (Neb.).
Having worked with the likes of John Elway, Ed McCaffrey, Steve Nash, Kellen Moore and Doug Martin during their collegiate careers, Schulz was the Broncos Associate Head Strength and Conditioning coach for three years.
He was the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Stanford University (1981-94) before heading to Santa Clara University (1994-10) and Boise State University (2010-13). With the SCU Broncos and BSU Broncos, Schulz worked with men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball. The Associate Head Strength coach at Boise, he assisted with Boise football for three years.
“I’m looking forward to working with our 14 teams and nearly 400 student-athletes. I believe having worked for over 30 years as Director of Sports Performance at the Division I level will help the Lopers take another step forward in developing a championship program. I'm excited by the challenge and opportunity - I can't wait to get started,” said Schulz at the time of his hiring.
Twice named the NSCA Region V Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year, Schulz has been a weightlifting competitor (Master's Division) in many international and national events including the World Championships, World Games and US Nationals. He set the world record in the clean & jerk in 2000 and was named America’s Outstanding Lifter in 1996.
Schulz began his professional strength and conditioning career as a graduate assistant at Nebraska-Lincoln. Holding a B.A. in Physical Education from Doane and a Master's in Exercise Science from UNL, he was a standout football player for Tigers, earning a tryout with the NFL's Denver Broncos.
After college, he was a semi-pro football player with the Omaha Mustangs and served as a teacher and coach in the Albion Public Schools.
Schulz has been a member of the NSCA since 1978 and also is a member of the CSCCA (Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association). A speaker at local, regional and national clinics, he also served as the Northern California State Director for the NSCA.
Schulz has two sons, Christopher and Nick. Christopher is a Child Psychologist in California while Nick is a former member of the San Diego Padres baseball organization.
