SAINT PAUL, Minn. --- Hamline University Assistant Vice President and Athletic Director Alex Focke announced that Alex Schmidt has been named the new head strength and conditioning coach for Hamline Athletics and will begin his duties on July 15.
"We are thrilled to welcome Alex to the Hamline Athletics family. His experience, energy, and commitment to student-athlete development makes him an outstanding fit for our department." stated Focke, "We are excited for the impact he will have on the strength, conditioning and overall success of our student-athletes both on and off the field of play."
Schmidt brings a breadth of collegiate and private coaching experience to our strength and conditioning program, having coached athletes across NCAA Division I, II, and III levels, as well from youth to professional athletes. Most recently, he served as the Director of Strength and Performance at Great Lakes Baseball Academy, developing athletes at the high school and post-grad levels. Prior to Great Lakes Baseball Academy, Schmidt has worked with Training HAUS, Colgate University, Swarthmore College, and Wilmington University.
Having coached athletes from more than 30 sports across NCAA Division I, II, and III athletics, high school athletics, private-sector performance, strength sports, and combat sports, his approach integrates evidence-based periodization, sport-specific movement enhancement, and individualized exercise selection based on injury history, movement limitations, and performance goals. Drawing from extensive experience in weightlifting, powerlifting, and collegiate basketball, he specializes in teaching and programming the major strength movements, their derivatives, and appropriate regressions.
A former basketball player at Concordia College and Augsburg University, Schmidt's athletic background extends beyond basketball to include competitive Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting. During his powerlifting career, he set four Delaware state records in the super heavyweight division.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to be the next Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Hamline University," said Schmidt. "My experiences as a student-athlete in the MIAC helped shape my passion for athletics, and I am proud to have the opportunity to return to the conference in this role. After spending more than a decade on the East Coast developing as a coach and working across NCAA Division I, II, and III athletics, it is especially meaningful to continue my career in Saint Paul, a community my family and I are proud to call home. I look forward to building a culture of grit, enthusiasm, and camaraderie while helping our student-athletes reach their full potential. I would also like to thank Chris Hartmann for his years of service and dedication to Hamline Athletics. The impact he has had on generations of student-athletes is evident throughout the department, and I am grateful for the opportunity to follow in his footsteps."
