Springfield, Mass. — September 28, 2026 — The Springfield College Department of Athletics and the School of Physical Education, Performance and Sports Leadership have announced the hiring of Jeff Stern '20 as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach and Assistant Professor of Strength and Conditioning.
"I don't have words yet and I won't for a long time. It's challenging to describe the gratitude I have for this place and most importantly the people that create the environment here," said Stern. "As an undergrad at Springfield, I had many people in my life that helped me grow and find my way as a student-athlete and young professional. Now, some of those same people have given me the opportunity to come back and serve this incredible community. A special thanks is owed to Adam and Mary Kate Feit who continue to change the game and have been integral in this opportunity to be back here and also Brian Thompson whose shoulders I stand on in this position. The last few years I have been lucky enough to train athletes at the highest level. Now I get the opportunity to coach the coaches at the highest level. These coaches then leave here to create their own legacy and move the field forward. It doesn't get better than that."
Stern joins Springfield College after stops at UMass Amherst, Iowa, Central Michigan and Merrimack.
From January of 2025 to July 2026, Stern was the Assistant Director of Football Sports Performance at UMass Amherst where he took the lead on all speed sessions and return to play protocols for injured student-athletes. He also implemented and led analysis on all GPS, NordBord Testing and readiness technology in order to maximize player performance, mitigate injury risk and guide return-to-play protocols. His coaching was instrumental to the football program as four student-athletes earned All-MAC Honors and one earned Second Team FWAA All-America accolades.
In two seasons at Iowa with Stern as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, the Hawkeyes won 18 games across two seasons which included a 10-win season and capturing the Big Ten West Division in 2023. Iowa earned berths to the Citrus and Music City Bowls after the 2023 and 2024 seasons, respectively, and finished the 2023 year ranked No. 24 nationally.
"I am thrilled to welcome Jeff Stern back home to Springfield and to have him join our program as an Assistant Professor of Strength and Conditioning and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach," said M. Susan Guyer, Dean of the School of PEPSL. "Jeff brings a wealth of experience from working with Division I athletics, along with a genuine passion for mentoring students and helping develop the next generation of strength and conditioning professionals. I know our students and athletes will benefit tremendously from his knowledge, experience, and talents. Jeff is equally passionate about training athletes to reach their highest potential, and I am excited to see the impact he will have on all 26 of our student-athletes, both in the classroom and in competition."
Stern earned his bachelor's degree in applied exercise science with a concentration in sports performance in 2020 from Springfield College. While on Alden Street, he was a four-year member of the football program and was a halfback for the Pride and was named a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Athlete of the Year All-American during his senior year. He then went on to earn his master's degree in exercise and sport science from Merrimack in 2021.
In each of his stops, Stern has taken a lead role in coordinating internships and working with interns, focusing on bringing in more interns to the programs, implementing curriculum and mentoring the students. He is well-versed in managing different technologies including Brower, DashR and Witty Timing Gate Systems, Catapult GPS System, Vald NordBord System, Hawkin Force Plate System to then consolidate and utilize the data collected to enhance student-athlete performance. Stern is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC), Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC), is United States Weightlifting Certified (USAW-1) and is a Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist (FRCms).
"We are incredibly excited to have Coach Jeff Stern in the role of Head Strength and Conditioning Coach here at Springfield College," said Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning, Mary Kate Feit. "Jeff brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience that will benefit both our student-athletes as well as the Strength and Conditioning Graduate Program. He has already had an incredible impact on campus in the last few weeks and I can't wait to see the positive impact he continues to have throughout this academic year and into the future."
During his stint at Central Michigan, Stern was the Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning where he implemented strength and conditioning programs for softball and women's volleyball and assisted in football's strength, speed and conditioning drills as well as being responsible for the refueling stations for the Chippewas. He also served as an Assistant Director and Graduate Fellow for the strength and conditioning department at Merrimack where he executed speed, strength and conditioning programs for football, field hockey, track and field throwers, women's basketball and women's tennis.
"Jeff's background, experience and expertise in strength and conditioning can only benefit the overall experience of our student-athletes," said Executive Director of Athletics, Dr. Craig Poisson. "Springfield College has long been at the forefront of cutting edge approaches in strength and conditioning and I look forward to his leadership in this important area."
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