SWAC strength coach takes over at DII HBCU

Courtesy of Central State Athletics

Wilberforce OH – Central State University Athletic Department and Director of Athletics Kevicia Brown is excited to announce the hiring of Keon Thorpe as the new Director of Strength and Conditioning.  Thorpe comes to Central State from Division I SWAC HBCU Alabama State University.

During his tenure at Alabama State, Thorpe has been instrumental in developing the football, track and field, cross country, and tennis programs. During this time, Thorpe has won two indoor and two outdoor HBCU conference championships in track and field and three championships with the men’s and women’s tennis programs at ASU. Thorpe is an instrumental part of the Sports Performance Department and the speed development for all sports at the SWAC school.

After spending time at Central Michigan University as an intern under the Director of Strength and Conditioning Coach Joel Welsh, he had the opportunity to assist their men’s wrestling, women’s volleyball, football, and sports science programs.

Before spending time at Central Michigan, Thorpe spent some time at Valparaiso University as an intern under Associate Director Sports Performance Coach Alex Curtis. While he was at Valparaiso, he assisted with football, tennis, and sports science programs.

Before Valparaiso, Thorpe was the Head Football Strength and Conditioning Coach at Huguenot High School for two seasons. He made an immediate impact in his first season, knowing that the football program had never experienced a strength and conditioning program at the highest level of training.

He spent two years at Proehlific Park as the performance coach under Director Rodney Beasley, working with all sports, and one season as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Carolina Cobras (National Arena League) under Head Strength Coach Blaze Thompson where he was part of the 2018 Carolina Cobras Championship team.

Interning at High Point University is where Thorpe first started his strength and conditioning career, working with all Olympic Sports under Head Strength Coach Andrew Crossley.

Thorpe earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science & sports studies at Greensboro College.  Thorpe also earned his Master’s of applied exercise Science with a concentration in strength and conditioning. Thorpe is CSCCa-SCCC certified through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association.  Currently, Thorpe is working on his PhD student in the Health and Human Performance program at Concordia University Chicago.

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