FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University Director of Athletics
Michael Mominey has announced the promotion of Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Steve Orris to Program Director – Sports Performance.
"Steve Orris is a highly respected colleague and an integral part of our NSU athletic team," said Mominey. "His contributions over the past three years lead to this change in what I see as administrative duties but more importantly, our collaborative efforts within sports medicine internally and externally."
Orris will be responsible for the design, implementation, education and evaluation of the sports performance program for all NSU student-athletes. He will manage all activities that pertain to the development of peak sports performance within the NSU Athletics Department. He will also continue to develop, implement and supervise the Strength and Conditioning programs for all NSU student-athletes, as well as head the research efforts in coordination with the Exercise Science Department at NSU.
Orris will continue to lead a department that aims to provide a well-designed, collaborative training program based on sound physiological principles: sport specific focus, experimentally proven methods and safe and productive physical training by means of a periodic plan. Their primary goals are maximizing the physical potential of the student-athlete population and to provide them with the best strength and conditioning program in the country.
"I want to thank Mike Mominey for the opportunity to serve our student-athletes in a more complete capacity," said Orris. "This new role will offer NSU athletes more individual attention in regards to sports nutrition and body composition analysis. I look forward to expanding on the efforts of the Sports Medicine team, and especially Dr. Gordon, in our approach to attaining optimum sports performance."
Orris has worked directly with NSU student-athletes since his arrival but has also contributed to the sports medicine community at large. In December 2013, Orris became a Certified Sports Nutritionist from the International Society for Sports Nutrition. In June, Orris presented on "Sports Nutrition for the College Athlete" at the International Society of Sports Nutrition annual conference.
Orris and his staff work out of the NSU Strength and Conditioning Complex, a state-of-the-art 5,500 square foot facility that is reserved for NSU student-athletes. The spacious facility has been designed to provide student-athletes with everything they need to succeed, including Infinity Max impact flooring, 16 Hammer Strength Racks, six sets of UCS Plyo-Safe Boxes, 10 TRX Suspension trainers, Iron Grip Customized Urethane dumbbells ranging from 2.5lbs – 125lbs, 10 plus Hammer Strength Iso pieces, four sets of UCS Olympic Hurdles, two-10ft Customized Slide boards, four Keiser Trainers, Endless Perform Better Accessories, eight sets of customized Werksan Olympic Bumpers and Bars and two Star Trac Treadmills with 15" HD TV's embedded in the touch panel. Over 15 tons of free weight equipment is offered in the facility.
Prior to arriving at NSU in June of 2011, Steve Orris worked for eight seasons with the University of Florida. During his first six years in Gainesville, Orris oversaw the development of student-athletes for the UF baseball and softball teams. In his last two seasons, he served as the strength and conditioning coordinator for women's basketball and softball.
Orris is officially certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist and is recognized by USA Weightlifting as a Sports Performance Coach. In addition, he has completed American Red Cross CPR training and earned his Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification.
A 2000 graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor's degree in exercise science, Orris earned a master's degree in health education from Hofstra University in 2003. Orris is certified as a strength and conditioning coach by the College Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. He is married to the former Michelle Ortega of Miramar, Fla. The couple has three daughters, Meilani Liu, Kami Lei and Leila.
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