Ryan Swenson is entering his eleventh season at Illinois State, and was promoted to the role of Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Performance in January 2024. Swenson works directly with the men’s basketball, volleyball, baseball, and track & field programs along with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Richard and Fran Owen Strength and Conditioning Center.
Before being elevated to the Director of Athletic Performance, he spent time as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach (2015-19) and as the Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning (2019-20). In those roles his responsibilities included working with football, men’s basketball, volleyball, track & field, and baseball along with assisting in the day-to-day operation of the department. Since being in a full-time role at ISU, he has worked with national qualifiers and professional athletes, and has been a part of 13 conference championship teams across sports.
Upon arrival at ISU, Swenson served as a graduate assistant for two years. He designed and implemented year-round training programs for swimming and diving, as well as gymnastics. Additionally, he worked as the first assistant to the football and men’s basketball teams while also assisting in training programs for soccer, track and field, and volleyball.
Prior to ISU, Swenson earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from North Dakota State while interning with the NDSU Strength and Conditioning department, working specifically with football and women’s basketball. After graduation, Swenson worked with the North Dakota Strength and Conditioning department as a volunteer assistant with the football and swimming teams.
Swenson has earned both a Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology and a Master of Business Administration with an Organizational Leadership Certificate from Illinois State. At North Dakota State, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science while also being a member of the track and field team. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC), and Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP).
