Neal to lead Olympic sports strength, conditioning
Brian Neal has been with the Diamond Dawgs for six seasons
Mississippi State baseball head strength coach Brian Neal was promoted to head of MSU Olympic sports strength and conditioning, Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin announced Thursday [Jan. 21]. In addition to his baseball duties, Neal will now oversee all strength and conditioning training based out of the Holliman and Shira Center on campus, including all staff, graduate assistants and interns.
“I am humbled and excited about being promoted as the new head of Olympic sports strength & conditioning,” Neal said. “My staff and I will continue to push forward with our relentless goal of training and producing championship-level athletes who perform consistently at an elite level.”
Neal is beginning his sixth season with the Diamond Dawgs next month, having helped lead the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance in four of his first five seasons. The 32-year-old Forest, Virginia, native arrived in Starkville in February 2011 following a four-year stint as assistant strength coach at Sam Houston State. There he directed the strength and conditioning efforts for baseball, track & field, golf, women’s soccer and women’s basketball, while also assisting with football strength training.
Neal was a linebacker on the Bridgewater College football team, and while an undergraduate there served internships with the strength and conditioning programs at Virginia Tech (2003) and North Carolina (2004).
After double majoring in both exercise science and allied health sciences, Neal graduated from Bridgewater and then served as a graduate assistant strength coach at Southern Miss (2005-2007), where he earned a graduate degree in sports coaching education. He also served an internship with the United States Olympic Committee (2007), working primarily with Summer Olympic athletes.
Certified with the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association), the USAW (United States Weightlifting) and CSCCA (Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association), Neal also coordinates strength and conditioning at Mississippi State for women’s soccer and both men’s and women’s golf.
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