Eric Sparks joined the athletic department as the Assistant Director of Athletic Performance in the Fall of 2023. Bringing over a decade of collegiate strength and conditioning experience spanning multiple NCAA Division I and Division II programs, Sparks oversees comprehensive training regimens designed to optimize student-athlete endurance, speed, and power.
Sparks holds several of the most prestigious certifications in the human performance industry:
- Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) - Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA)
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) - National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
- Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC) - National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
- Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist (FRCms) - Â Functional Anatomy Seminars
- Basic Lifesaver Certification (CPR/AED) - American Heart Association
- First-Aid Certified - American Red Cross
Prior to his arrival, Sparks built a diverse professional portfolio with impactful stints across the country, developing elite athletes at every stop:
- The University of Houston (2022–2023)
- The University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley (2017–2022)
- Missouri Southern State University (2016–2017)
- The University of Missouri - Kansas City (2016)
- Clemson University (2015)
- Southern Illinois University (SIU) (2013–2015)
Sparks possesses a deep academic foundation in the science of human movement. He earned a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science from Southern Illinois University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology, with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, from the University of Kansas.
As a collegiate student-athlete, Sparks competed in Men's Swimming and Diving, specializing in the Sprint Freestyle. He swam for Towson University from 2008 to 2010 before finishing his competitive career at Southern Illinois University from 2013 to 2014.
A native of Topeka, Kansas, Sparks resides locally with his wife, Kathryn, their six-year-old son, Carter, their one-year-old daughter, Scarlett, and their 12-year-old dog, Henry.
