Mark Uptegraff has been selected as Head Strength and Conditioning coach.

"We are excited about having Mark join our athletic department and lead our strength program," Agler said. "We have the greatest facilities and equipment in the country. With Mark's drive, knowledge, energy, and focus, our teams will improve their abilities."

Uptegraff comes to Wittenberg after two years as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, Virginia. He obtained a master of education from Virginia Tech last month, three years after earning his bachelor of arts in exercise and sport science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

While an undergraduate at North Carolina, Uptegraff served as the strength and conditioning intern and a student coach for the Tar Heel football team during the 2017-18 school year. From 2014-17, Uptegraff was an offensive lineman for the football team.

After graduating from North Carolina, Uptegraff spent one year as an administrative strength and conditioning intern at Ohio State University. He worked with the strength and conditioning staff at Ohio State University and assisted with the application of programs for several teams, including the Buckeye football team that won the Big Ten Conference championship.

"I'm very blessed and grateful to be joining Wittenberg University Athletics. I want to thank Brian Agler, administration, and the coaching staff for giving me this opportunity," Uptegraff said. "I'm fired up to work with the student-athletes, coaches, and staff as we continue to drive a winning culture, strive to accomplish our goals, and reach new heights, in the pursuit of developing people."

At North Carolina, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech, Uptegraff worked with a variety of teams and student-athletes. In addition to football, he has assisted in the application of strength and conditioning programs for wrestling, tennis, golf, baseball, track and field, soccer, volleyball, swimming and diving, lacrosse, rowing and gymnastics teams. Uptegraff has numerous certifications including, CSCCa-SCCC (Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association- Strength and Conditioning Coaches Certified), NSCA-CSCS (National Strength and Conditioning Association-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) and USAW-L1 (USA Weightlifting-Level1) and RPR (Reflexive Performance Reset).