The UC San Diego Strength and Conditioning staff offers year round training to all of the 23 Triton athletic teams. Through a wide variety of stimulus and techniques our professional strength coaches provide a comprehensive training approach that allows our
student athletes to compete at their highest level.

As a strength staff we invest fully in the mission of each of our teams as well as to the success of each student athlete. It is our goal to help each student athlete realize if not surpass his or her athletic potential. Through a blend of scientifically based training techniques, and high intensity motivation we are able to extract the best out of each of our student athletes.

The Triton Strength and Conditioning Coaches are certified strength and conditioning specialists (CSCS) who pride themselves on maintaining their knowledge of the most current training concepts and techniques in order to develop the most comprehensive and competitive student- athlete.

Our staff is a high energy hands on staff who know what its like to dedicate and spend themselves in a team effort for a common goal. We believe that the greatest feeling of accomplishment is to know you did all you could do to become all you can be. It is our passion to make you better.

Rudy Thomas, MS, CSCS, CSCCa, USAW - Director of Strength and Conditioning

Rudy Thomas was named UC San Diego's Director of Strength and Conditioning in May of 2010.

Prior to joining the Triton family, Thomas worked at Marquette University with the basketball, soccer, tennis, golf, volleyball and track and field programs.

"I'm very excited for the opportunity to be a part of the outstanding athletics department at UC San Diego," Thomas said. "With all the success the programs have had, the bar has already been set so high. I'm really looking forward to getting to work and embracing the challenge that lies ahead."

Thomas comes to La Jolla after three seasons at Marquette, where he designed, implemented and supervised year-round periodized strength, speed and conditioning programs for many of the Golden Eagle athletic teams. In addition to implementing several speed and power enhancement programs, Thomas also served as coordinator of the Marquette Strength and Conditioning Internship Program and the Student Athlete Training Table.

Prior to his time in Milwaukee, Thomas served as a strength coach at the University of Iowa from 2006-07, working with the men's and women's basketball teams, as well as with the Olympic sports. He was also an assistant strength coach at Stanford University from 2001-02, where he again worked with the men's and women's basketball and track and field teams. While at Stanford, Thomas was mentored by John Murray, the current strength and conditioning coach of the NBA's Golden State Warriors.

Thomas has also worked as a guest strength and conditioning coach at Ohio State University and the University of South Florida.

In addition to his experience working in intercollegiate athletics, Thomas served as the director of strength and conditioning at the Columbus Academy from 2005-06, where he designed, implemented and oversaw strength, speed, and conditioning programs for all 18 Academy varsity sports. He also worked as the director for athletic development at the High Intensity Training Center in Worthington, Ohio in 2006.

Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science with a concentration in strength and conditioning from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2001. He went on to earn a masters' of science degree from Boise State in exercise physiology in 2004. While at BSU, he served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Kinesiology, as well as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach.


Kevin Backus - Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

Kevin Backus was named Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach in August of 2012. He will primarily be working with the Triton women's crew, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, women's volleyball and women's water polo programs.