RELEASE COURTESY OF DR. CHUCK STIGGINS (CSCCa Executive Director)

Fort Worth, Texas – Travis Illian, Director of Sports Performance at Southern Utah University, will be named Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa).  This honor is the highest given in the strength and conditioning coaching profession, and the ceremony is undoubtedly the highlight of the association's National Conference each year. Master Strength and Conditioning Coach Ben Pollard, from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, will present Coach Illian with the blue MSCC Jacket on Thursday evening, May 10, 2018, at Omni Fort Worth Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.

"This is an incredible honor for Travis," says CSCCa Executive Director, Dr. Chuck Stiggins.  "Being named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach signifies a commitment to the student athlete, the Southern Utah University program, and the strength and conditioning profession.  We are honored to have Coach Illian as a member of our association and to have him join the ranks of the Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches. He is truly a model of an outstanding strength and conditioning professional."

In order to receive this certification and corresponding title of distinction, an individual must first meet the following criteria:

1. Hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree;

2. Be a currently practicing, full-time strength & conditioning coach on the collegiate or professional level;

3. Hold current membership in the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa);

4. Hold the CSCCa Certification – SCCC  (Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified); and

5. Have a minimum of 12 years experience as a full-time strength and conditioning coach on the collegiate and/or professional level.

Eighteen collegiate strength & conditioning coaches will receive the prestigious title of Master Strength & Conditioning Coach at the 2018 MSCC Ceremony: Travis Illian (Southern Utah University); John D. Ciani (University of New Hampshire); Tyler Clarke (Vanderbilt University); Michelle Diltz (University of Alabama); Jon-Michael Davis (Eastern Kentucky University); Lou Hernandez (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill); Derrick Jenkins (University of Texas at San Antonio); Kaz Kazadi (Southern Methodist University); Jim Kramer (North Dakota State University); James Krumpos (University of Arizona); Johnny Long (Carson Newman University); Timothy Mullen (Harvard University); Kelly Powers (University of Cincinnati); Michael Schweigert (Northwestern University); Joshua Storms (University of Memphis); Joel Tudman (Oklahoma State University); Curtis Turner (Georgia Institute of Technology); and Matthew Turner (University of Mississippi).  These 18 coaches will join the existing 180 Master Strength & Conditioning Coaches, bringing the total number of MSCC's to 198.