MADISON, Wis. – Jeff Zuhlke has been named the first full-time director of athletic performance in Edgewood University athletics history, Director of Athletics Nick Pasquarello announced Thursday. Zuhlke a former football student-athlete at UW-La Crosse brings a wealth of experience from his time at Division I institutions like the University of Wisconsin and the University of Texas, to the Toronto Blue Jays Minor League affiliate Dunedin Blue Jays, and most recently as a US Army Special Forces Special Operations Performance Specialist.
"After conducting a national search, it became clear that Jeff was the right person to help us build and lead this important area of our athletics program," said Eagles Director of Athletics Nick Pasquarello. "I have known Jeff for many years and have had the opportunity to witness firsthand his passion for developing people, his expertise in athletic performance, and his ability to build meaningful relationships."
Zuhlke spent the last four years as a Special Operations Performance Specialist with the US Army. With the 1st Special Forces Group, Zuhlke established advanced strength & conditioning and human performance protocols with the Green Berets.
"I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the hiring committee and Director of Athletics Nick Pasquarello for their trust and confidence in me," said Zuhlke. "This opportunity represents a chance to elevate and reshape the culture of athletic performance at Edgewood University while building on the strong foundation that already exists. I'm committed to creating an intentional, student-athlete-centered strength and conditioning program that helps our teams gain a competitive advantage. Every training session will have a purpose, and our student-athletes will have access to world-class performance training designed to help them reach their full potential—both in competition and beyond."
Zuhlke builds his performance programs on collaboration, accountability, and measurable results. During his 10 years at the University of Wisconsin, Zuhlke worked his way up to Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning and worked with a variety of collegiate sports including football, track & field, cross country, softball, volleyball, and other Olympic sports.
"Jeff brings a unique combination of experience from Division I athletics, professional sports, and elite military performance environments. More importantly, he is deeply committed to helping individuals reach their full potential. As the first full-time Athletic Performance Coach in our department's history, Jeff's leadership will be transformative for our student-athletes and will serve as a significant differentiator for our program. We are excited about the impact he will have on the performance, well-being, and overall experience of our student-athletes."
Zuhlke earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise & Sport Science from UW-La Crosse. Zuhlke is also strength and conditioning coach certified through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA).
Zuhlke currently lives in Belleville with his wife Breinne and their German Shorthaired Pointer.
