Athletics | 5/22/2015 11:39:00 AM

MONMOUTH, Ore. – At the beginning of May, Western Oregon University's Director of Sports Performance Cori Metzgar was named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa).

Metzgar was presented with the blue MSCC jacket on May 7 by her mentor Master Strength and Conditioning Coach Anthony Glass from The Ohio State University at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

"This is an incredible honor for Cori," says CSCCa Executive Director, Dr. Chuck Stiggins. "Being named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach signifies a commitment to the student athlete, the Western Oregon University athletic program, and the strength and conditioning profession. We are honored to have Coach Metzgar as a member of our association and to have her join the ranks of the Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches. She 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 hold a bachelor's degree, be a currently practicing, full-time strength & conditioning coach on the collegiate or professional level, hold current membership in the CSCCa, hold the CSCCa Certification – SCCC (Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified), and have a minimum of 12 years of experience as a full-time strength and conditioning coach on the collegiate and/or professional level.

With this honor, Metzgar becomes one of 160 Master Strength & Conditioning Coaches in the nation and joins an elite group of females to hold the certification.

"I believe there are less than 15 females in the nation that are master strength coaches," said Metzgar. "I know that there are only three females in the NCAA that are directly responsible for football and I am proud to be one of them."

Metzgar came to Western Oregon in October of 2011 after spending three years at Washington State University as the strength and conditioning specialist for the baseball, volleyball, soccer and women's swimming programs. She also spent two years working with the cross country, tennis and rowing programs at WSU and had the opportunity to assist with the football strength and conditioning program every year during her stay with the Cougars.

Prior to arriving in Pullman, Metzgar worked at Colorado State University where she served stints as the head and assistant strength and conditioning coach. She also had a two-year stop at Ohio State as a professional intern with the Buckeyes strength and conditioning program and did her graduate assistantship at Western Michigan University.

Along with her MSCC, Metzgar is also a certified member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCS) and USA Weightlifting. She received her bachelor's degree in exercise science from Fort Lewis College in 1998 and her master's in physical education from Western Michigan in 2000.

Metzgar was one of 20 other collegiate strength & conditioning coaches that received the prestigious certification earlier this month in Nashville.

"I feel blessed that I have been able to do this job for 17 years," Metzgar said. "I love what I do and have never wanted to do anything else. I absolutely love coaching and seeing the development in the student-athletes beginning with their freshman year to whenever they leave Western. I want to help them be better people. The tools that they are developing here will help them be successful after WOU."