July 31, 2007

HUNTINGTON - John Hark has been named the head strength and conditioning coach for Olympic Sports for Marshall University Athletics. Hark's duties at Marshall will include directing the Henderson Center Weight Room, supervising a staff of Graduate Assistants and Interns and overseeing all 15 Olympic Sports Teams. He will also supervise and coordinate the strength and conditioning programs for the men's basketball team.

Hark, 23, is a native of Wyckoff, New Jersey and a 2006 graduate of Binghamton University. After playing baseball for the Bearcats for 3 years, he worked as a Student Strength and Conditioning Intern with Track & Field, Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving and Cross Country while assisting with all other sports. Hark received a Bachelor of Science in Human Development from Binghamton in 2006.

Hark joined the Herd strength staff as a graduate assistant in August of 2006, when he worked with Baseball, Softball, Women's Tennis, Track & Field (sprinters and jumpers) and Men's and Women's Cross Country while assisting with all other Olympic sports.

"I'm extremely honored to take over the position of Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports," said Hark. "I'm truly passionate about the development of athleticism through strength and conditioning and look forward to improving upon the performance of all of Marshall's Olympic sports programs."

Hark is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA).