Luis Rodriguez-Castellano, MExSc, CSCS, ISAK-1
Luis is a third year PhD student in the Sport Physiology and Performance program. Coming from Jayuya, Puerto Rico, he earned his B.S. in Physical Education with a double major in Sports Conditioning Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) in 2009. During his tenure at PUCPR, he was awarded a full scholarship for his role as Assistant Swimming Coach of the Varsity swimming team. His duties were designing the yearly swimming and weight training programs. While working as a personal trainer, Luis earned his master’s in Exercise Science with Specialty in Exercise Physiology from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus (UPR). During this time, he interned at the Center of Sports Health and Exercise Science of the School of Medicine of the UPR and also had the opportunity as a coaching intern with the legendary U.S.A. Olympic Swimmer, Dr. Gary Hall, Sr. at the world-renowned swimming club – “The Race Club”. Before arriving at ETSU, Luis worked as an Exercise Physiologist for Cenegenics Puerto Rico, a preventive medicine program, alongside two Physicians and a Nutritionist. Luis’s previous research dealt with assessing the effects of an alkalizing supplementation on performance and blood lactate after a short-term maximal exercise in trained cyclists. He currently works as a strength coach/sports scientist with the Milligan University Swimming team and is interning with the Men’s Basketball team. His future interests are improving the physical performance of swimmers with sound programming principals. He also seeks to work as a strength and conditioning coach/sports scientist in the NBA. |
Dylan Suarez MS, CSCS, CPT, USAW-2
Dylan is a third-year doctoral student studying Sport Physiology and Performance and is simultaneously completing a graduate certificate in Data Analytics at ETSU. His current research focus involves investigating various athlete monitoring strategies using the Countermovement Jump. He grew up in Orlando, FL and moved to Johnson City, TN in 2014 to join the ETSU Weightlifting team. Prior to competing in Weightlifting, he competed nationally and internationally in Martial Arts and Kickboxing and, for several years, worked as a Martial Arts instructor and coach. During his Ph.D. Dylan served as an assistant coach and the lead sport scientist for the Weightlifting team at ETSU and as a Sport Science Intern at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, NV. His goals after graduation are to become an Applied Sport Scientist for a professional organization. |

Sungwon Chae, MS, CSCS
Sungwon is a second-year PhD student in Sport Physiology and Performance beginning from Fall 2020. He is from Seoul in South Korea where he earned a B.S. in Physical Education at Hanyang University. At the University of North Texas, he studied Kinesiology as an international exchange student and received an M.S. in Exercise Physiology. He is currently working with the ETSU Weightlifting Team and Club. His research interests include integrating accentuated eccentric loading and cluster set into periodization as well as athlete monitoring for weightlifters and other strength and power athletes. Sungwon's career goal is to work as a sport scientist that can contribute to optimizing periodization and provide athlete monitoring for elite athletes.
Sungwon is a second-year PhD student in Sport Physiology and Performance beginning from Fall 2020. He is from Seoul in South Korea where he earned a B.S. in Physical Education at Hanyang University. At the University of North Texas, he studied Kinesiology as an international exchange student and received an M.S. in Exercise Physiology. He is currently working with the ETSU Weightlifting Team and Club. His research interests include integrating accentuated eccentric loading and cluster set into periodization as well as athlete monitoring for weightlifters and other strength and power athletes. Sungwon's career goal is to work as a sport scientist that can contribute to optimizing periodization and provide athlete monitoring for elite athletes.

Emmanuel Espinoza
Emmanuel is a second-year Ph.D student in the Sport Physiology and Performance program. A Native of San Jose, CA, Emmanuel came to the program after serving as the strength and conditioning coach for the San Jose Earthquakes MLS academy. He has also worked as a strength and conditioning coach at the collegiate level at San Jose State University where he completed his Undergraduate and Master’s degrees. His previous experience includes working with Football and a variety of Olympic sports at the collegiate level. His research interests include sprinting, sprint training for team sport athletes (particularly soccer players), and using/implementing performance monitoring solutions for team sports.
Emmanuel is a second-year Ph.D student in the Sport Physiology and Performance program. A Native of San Jose, CA, Emmanuel came to the program after serving as the strength and conditioning coach for the San Jose Earthquakes MLS academy. He has also worked as a strength and conditioning coach at the collegiate level at San Jose State University where he completed his Undergraduate and Master’s degrees. His previous experience includes working with Football and a variety of Olympic sports at the collegiate level. His research interests include sprinting, sprint training for team sport athletes (particularly soccer players), and using/implementing performance monitoring solutions for team sports.

Ethan Lindermuth MS, CSCS
Ethan is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Sport Physiology and Performance program. Current Strength and Conditioning coach and Sport Scientist for Milligan Men’s and Women’s Soccer. Graduate of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (B.S, 2017, M.S, 2020). Former Sport Performance Coach at MVP Clubhouse (Buckhorn, PA) and Cardiology Medical Assistant at Geisinger Medical System. Interests include sport mechanics, performance and sport physiology.
Ethan is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Sport Physiology and Performance program. Current Strength and Conditioning coach and Sport Scientist for Milligan Men’s and Women’s Soccer. Graduate of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (B.S, 2017, M.S, 2020). Former Sport Performance Coach at MVP Clubhouse (Buckhorn, PA) and Cardiology Medical Assistant at Geisinger Medical System. Interests include sport mechanics, performance and sport physiology.

Ryan Lis MS, CSCS
Ryan is a first year PhD student in the Sport Physiology program. Ryan earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science from Longwood University in Farmville, VA. Ryan completed his master's in exercise physiology with a concentration in sport performance from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA. Ryan has interned at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA as a sports performance intern. He has also interned in Port St. Lucie, FL at Barwis Methods, who advises sport performance for the New York Mets, Detroit Red Wings, and formerly the Miami Dolphins. Another internship was completed at Elon University in Elon, NC. He is currently working with Milligan's men's and women's swim teams as an assistant S&C coach. He plans on becoming a professor of S&C/sport science. His research interests are athlete tracking/monitoring, long term athletic development, and recovery methodologies/modalities.
Ryan is a first year PhD student in the Sport Physiology program. Ryan earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science from Longwood University in Farmville, VA. Ryan completed his master's in exercise physiology with a concentration in sport performance from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA. Ryan has interned at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA as a sports performance intern. He has also interned in Port St. Lucie, FL at Barwis Methods, who advises sport performance for the New York Mets, Detroit Red Wings, and formerly the Miami Dolphins. Another internship was completed at Elon University in Elon, NC. He is currently working with Milligan's men's and women's swim teams as an assistant S&C coach. He plans on becoming a professor of S&C/sport science. His research interests are athlete tracking/monitoring, long term athletic development, and recovery methodologies/modalities.

David Fish MS, CSCS, USATF-1
David is a first-year PhD student in the Sport Physiology and Performance program. Originally from the west suburbs of Chicago, David earned his B.A. in PE, Sport, and Fitness Instruction from Carthage College while also recently completing his master’s degree at ETSU. As a former DIII Cross Country and Track & Field athlete, David is excited to apply and enhance his understanding of injury prevention and strength training with endurance sports. David has worked as an Assistant Coach at Downers Grove South High School for both Cross Country as well as Track & Field, primarily working with sprinters and jumpers during track. David now serves as a sport scientist for the Weightlifting team. His goals are to become a director of performance and work with the various disciplines (sports med, sports psych, sports nutrition, sports coaches, and strength and conditioning) to prepare the athletes he works with as best as possible.
David is a first-year PhD student in the Sport Physiology and Performance program. Originally from the west suburbs of Chicago, David earned his B.A. in PE, Sport, and Fitness Instruction from Carthage College while also recently completing his master’s degree at ETSU. As a former DIII Cross Country and Track & Field athlete, David is excited to apply and enhance his understanding of injury prevention and strength training with endurance sports. David has worked as an Assistant Coach at Downers Grove South High School for both Cross Country as well as Track & Field, primarily working with sprinters and jumpers during track. David now serves as a sport scientist for the Weightlifting team. His goals are to become a director of performance and work with the various disciplines (sports med, sports psych, sports nutrition, sports coaches, and strength and conditioning) to prepare the athletes he works with as best as possible.

Luke DeVirgiliis
Luke DeVirgiliis is a first year PhD student, he came to the PhD program after an undergrad at the University of Pittsburgh and finishing his master's here at ETSU. He competes in weightlifting and judo, makes a good latte, and on a day off you can find him not having the day off.
Luke DeVirgiliis is a first year PhD student, he came to the PhD program after an undergrad at the University of Pittsburgh and finishing his master's here at ETSU. He competes in weightlifting and judo, makes a good latte, and on a day off you can find him not having the day off.

Kurt McDowell MS, CSCS
Kurt McDowell is a 1st year PhD Student. He acquired his Master's of Nutrition and Exercise from Southeast Missouri State University where he also spent time interning with the strength and conditioning department and teaching exercise science courses as a Teaching Assistant. He also spent time serving as an Adjunct Instructor teaching additional courses like physiology of conditioning. He has experience working with baseball, basketball, American football, and gymnastics. He has experience in the private sector as a personal trainer for general fitness clients. His areas of research interest have been primarily around muscle hypertrophy and program design as well as body composition and power output in American football athletes.
Kurt McDowell is a 1st year PhD Student. He acquired his Master's of Nutrition and Exercise from Southeast Missouri State University where he also spent time interning with the strength and conditioning department and teaching exercise science courses as a Teaching Assistant. He also spent time serving as an Adjunct Instructor teaching additional courses like physiology of conditioning. He has experience working with baseball, basketball, American football, and gymnastics. He has experience in the private sector as a personal trainer for general fitness clients. His areas of research interest have been primarily around muscle hypertrophy and program design as well as body composition and power output in American football athletes.

Andrew Nelson
Andrew Nelson is a first year PhD student in the Sport Physiology and Performance program. Originally from Hershey, PA, he was a four-year starter for the football team at Penn State University in State College, PA where he earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. Following the completion of his undergraduate career, he began working as a S&C graduate assistant coach for the ETSU football team while obtaining his master’s degree.
Andrew Nelson is a first year PhD student in the Sport Physiology and Performance program. Originally from Hershey, PA, he was a four-year starter for the football team at Penn State University in State College, PA where he earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. Following the completion of his undergraduate career, he began working as a S&C graduate assistant coach for the ETSU football team while obtaining his master’s degree.

Nicholas Goode, M.S Exercise Physiology
Nick is currently a first year PhD student in the physiology track. He acquired his Master's in exercise physiology from Barry University in Miami, FL. He joins the program coming from Philadelphia, PA. After retiring from rowing, culminating in 2016 Olympic Rowing trials, 2017 English Royal Henley regatta, and 2017 Coastal Rowing World Championships appearances, he has been coaching Junior rowing and cycling athletes while competing as a Category 3 USA cycling athlete. With more than 15 years of coaching and competitive experience, he is excited to be currently working with ETSU's women's triathlon athletes. His research interests are aerobic and endurance performance with and emphasis around lactate threshold. He enjoys working with both athletes and coaches to improve the athlete experience and the profession of coaching at all levels of sport.
Nick is currently a first year PhD student in the physiology track. He acquired his Master's in exercise physiology from Barry University in Miami, FL. He joins the program coming from Philadelphia, PA. After retiring from rowing, culminating in 2016 Olympic Rowing trials, 2017 English Royal Henley regatta, and 2017 Coastal Rowing World Championships appearances, he has been coaching Junior rowing and cycling athletes while competing as a Category 3 USA cycling athlete. With more than 15 years of coaching and competitive experience, he is excited to be currently working with ETSU's women's triathlon athletes. His research interests are aerobic and endurance performance with and emphasis around lactate threshold. He enjoys working with both athletes and coaches to improve the athlete experience and the profession of coaching at all levels of sport.