July 1, 2010

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Tony Rolinski, a member of the University of Notre Dame strength and conditioning staff since 1998, and most recently the program’s interim director for Olympic Sports, has been named Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports. In his new position, Rolinski will be responsible for the development and implementation of the strength and conditioning programming for 25 Irish sports while continuing to have day-to-day oversight for the men’s basketball and hockey teams.

Rolinski’s promotion is part of Notre Dame’s Sports Performance Program, an initiative that began at the start of the 2009-10 school year. The Sports Performance Program focuses on the areas of strength and conditioning, athletic training/rehabilitation, sports medicine, sports nutrition, sports psychology and equipment with the goal of assisting all athletic teams to achieve maximum athletic success.

Rolinski had served as the associate director prior to his promotion for the past four years. Previous to that, he spent five years as the program’s strength and conditioning coordinator and three years as an assistant strength coach. He will continue to be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Joyce Center weight facilities and the supervision of the Olympic sport’s strength and conditioning staff. Further, he will work with Mike Karwoski, Associate Athletic Director for Sports Performance, on new programming for the Sports Performance Program.

He joined the Irish strength and conditioning staff following a one-year stint as the head strength and conditioning coach at Duquesne University during the 1997-98 school year, where he implemented and oversaw programs for 20 varsity sports.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Rolinski received his bachelor’s degree in health education with a minor in exercise science from Penn State in 1991. From 1994-96, while earning his master’s degree in exercise physiology at the University of Pittsburgh, he served as an intern on the Panther football staff where he assisted with all aspects of the strength and conditioning program. Following his stint at Pittsburgh, Rolinski was the head strength and conditioning coach at North Hills High School in Pittsburgh (1996-97).

Rolinski also has earned certifications from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (SCCC) and National Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCS).

Born December 10, 1968, Rolinski and his wife, the former Julie Connolly, have two daughters, Alexis and Jaclyn, and two sons, Jake and Jared.