ROLLA, Mo. – David Edwards, who has served as the strength and conditioning coordinator and head powerlifting coach at Missouri Valley College for the last three and one-half years, has been named as Missouri S&T's new strength and conditioning coach.  Edwards will begin his duties at S&T on July 12.

"David comes to S&T with a tremendous amount of knowledge and passion for student-athlete development," said Missouri S&T director of athletics Melissa Ringhausen.  "His elite training will allow our student-athletes to develop and grow to their full potential while reducing the risk of injury.  He will be a key component in producing teams that compete and thrive at the highest level and we are confident he is going to make an immediate impact on our programs and student-athletes."    

At Missouri Valley, Edwards coordinated and oversaw the strength and conditioning programs for all 14 of the Viking programs.  In addition to creating and coordinating the workout agendas for each of the teams, he also built nutrition programs and worked with the athletic training staff in assisting with rehabilitation for injured student-athletes to allow for to return to play.

Hired as Missouri Valley's first coach in that area, Edwards also helped design the school's new weight room facility.  He also served as an adjunct professor at the school, teaching courses in exercise science, strength and conditioning and nutrition.

Prior to holding that position, Edwards served as the assistant strength and conditioning coach and head powerlifting coach at McKendree University from 2015-17, where he coached a second place, third place and seventh place competitor at the USA Powerlifting (USAPL) 2017 Collegiate Nationals.  He also spent four years at Limestone College as the assistant strength and conditioning coach and as an adjunct professor in the physical education department.

Edwards began his career in the field at his alma mater, James Madison University, as a volunteer assistant working with the football, golf, women's lacrosse, swimming & diving and field hockey programs.  The St. Cloud, Fla., native was a student-athlete at James Madison who played two seasons on the baseball team.
 
Edwards received a bachelor's of science in kinesiology from James Madison, and a Master's of Science in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania.  He has certification as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and for USA Weightlifting (USAW).  

Edwards is also a former powerlifting competitor at 163 pounds and 183 pounds, setting state records in the squat and deadlift as an active competitor.