Eric Sparks, who worked as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) in 2016-17, joined UTRGV as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach in July 2017.
While at MSSU, Sparks coordinated the scheduling, design and implementation of strength and conditioning programs for women’s soccer, men’s golf and men’s and women’s track & field. He also assisted with the implementation of programs for football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball.
Sparks is familiar with the Western Athletic Conference after working in the strength and conditioning program with UMKC during the summer of 2016. During that time, he implemented training and conditioning programs for the UMKC varsity dance and cheerleading programs while assisting with softball, volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, and track & field.
Sparks joined UMKC after completing an internship at Clemson, where he worked with injured volleyball student-athletes as well as freshmen on the cross country and rowing teams.
Sparks began his athletic performance career as an intern at Southern Illinois University (SIU) from 2013-15, during which time he worked with football, softball, volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball, swimming & diving, and track & field.
Sparks currently holds four certifications, including one as a strength and conditioning coach from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, one as a certified strength and conditioning specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, one as a Level 1 Sports Performance Coach from USA Weightlifting, and one in CPR/AED/First Aid from the American Heart Association.
Sparks was a freestyler swimmer for the Towson men’s swimming & diving team from 2008-10 and again at SIU in 2013-14.
Originally from Topeka, Kan., Sparks earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Kansas in 2013 and his Master of Science in Education in Kinesiology from SIU in 2016.
