UNIVERSITY OF UTAH ATHLETICS STUDENT-ATHLETE BELONGING, SUCCESS, HEALTH & HIGHPERFORMANCE
REACHING THE PEAK
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH ATHLETICS STUDENT-ATHLETE
BELONGING, SUCCESS, HEALTH & HIGH-PERFORMANCE
OUR MISSION
Utah Athletics promotes a culture of excellence that optimizes the student-athlete experience and best positions our students for success in the classroom, community, and competition.
HOME OF THE WASATCH MOUNTAIN RANGE, UTAH IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD. Its five National Parks, 46 State Parks, and 15 ski resorts makes Utah a premier destination for outdoors enthusiasts from all over the globe. Diverse communities work together to climb the proverbial mountains of life in the 21st century. Entrepreneurs have built world class businesses in Utah, planting their flags at the summit of their respective industries.
And some of the greatest student-athletes to ever step onto the field, court, pool, or track in collegiate sports have reached peak performance at the University of Utah, as demonstrated by impressive stats and records such as:
• 75 Utah student-athletes have represented their respective countries in the Olympics.
• Utah student-athletes have won 32 team national championships and 128 individual national titles in department history.
• Seven Utah teams combined to claim a school-record 10 conference titles in 2022-23.
• In 2022-23, the Utes claimed their highest finish in the final LEARFIELD Director’s Cup rankings since the program was launched in 1993-94, ranking 28th
• In 2021-22, Utah achieved its highest ranking through the final Winter standings in the LEARFIELD Director’s Cup since 1997-98, ranking 25th in Division I.
• 1,058 Utah student-athletes have earned All-American honors in the department’s history.
• Utah produced 21 Academic All-Americans in the four years from 2021-22 through 2024-25, the most in any fouryear span in school history, including a school-record eight in the 2022-23 academic year. Since 1964, there have been 94+ Academic All-Americans.
• The Utes have achieved a score of 93-percent or higher in the NCAA’s annual Graduation Success Rate (GSR) for eight consecutive years, including a department record-tying GSR of 95% in 2025, tying for the third-highest rate among all power conference public institutions.
No student-athlete can reach the summit of success and achieve their peak performance without the holistic support provided by the University of Utah Athletics Student-Athlete Belonging, Success, Health & High-Performance.
To help these talented and driven competitors maximize their performance and achieve great success on and off the field, the University of Utah has assembled a group of nationally recognized practitioners, certified experts, and licensed professionals who form the Student-Athlete Belonging, Success, Health & High-Performance Department.
Each specialty is tailored to meet the demands on and off the field success staff is made up of highly trained professionals who work together and use their experience and knowledge to educate and elevate student-athletes who are determined to pursue excellence in their physical preparation,
nutrition, sports psychology, mental & emotional wellness, academic achievement, and belonging and lifelong success at the University of Utah and beyond.
We strive to be the best in support services for student-athletes and are driven to constantly elevate the services we offer by integrating the latest advancements in research, technology, and science. Our aim is to stand at the top of the mountain as the most elite support team for student-athletes in the world.
“I believe student-athletes should come to the University of Utah for the incredible athletics community, the unrivaled academic experience, and the opportunity to challenge themselves against elite competition. The University of Utah is poised to deliver the best student-athlete experience in one of the most geographically stunning places in the world.”
PATRICK JENKINS
UTAH’S SPORTS MEDICINE TEAM OF BOARD CERTIFIED AND STATE LICENSED ATHLETIC TRAINERS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, AND TEAM PHYSICIANS WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE IS DELIVERED TO STUDENT-ATHLETES.
The U has world-class training facilities where our studentathletes build strength, enhance agility, and improve speed.
In combination with Student-Athlete Belonging, Success, and other Health & High-Performance staff, Utah’s Sports Medicine providers coordinate and creatively deliver athlete-centered healthcare that supports student-athletes aiming to optimize their performance in the classroom, in the community, and in competition.
Programs and services offered by our Sports Medicine Team include:
• Pre-season physicals
• Cardiac screening
• Baseline concussion assessments
• Bloodwork
• Movement screening and sports injury evaluation
• Injury prevention strategies
• Sports injury rehabilitation
When injuries happen, the Utah Sports Medicine team coordinate to guide student-athletes through the University of Utah’s world class Health System, where access to cutting edge diagnostics, expert physician providers, and innovative medical technologies create an environment for integrated return-to-play strategies that ensure studentathletes can optimize their health in order to maximize their performance.
At the heart of the Health & High-Performance teams is an Athlete Management System (AMS) that centralizes student-athlete health and performance information. The AMS allows the Health & High-Performance staff to share, sync and collaborate on injuries and respective activity modifications, return-to-play considerations, athlete hydration, performance outputs, readiness, and more. The AMS is a game changer for Utah Athletics and ties our Health & High-Performance teams together while maintaining student privacy.
Investing in student-athlete healthcare is much more than band-aids and taping ankles; it encompasses everything from cutting edge modalities that promote tissue healing, to anti-gravity treadmills and hydrotherapy pools that unload joints and expedite recovery, to rehabilitative equipment that captures every movement on a player’s return-to-play journey.
The Sports Medicine team strategically aligns their expertise with each Student-Athlete Belonging, Success, Health & High-Performance team to optimize delivery of specific interventions which ensure the best possible outcome and create opportunities for student-athletes to reach the highest of heights on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. 13
“I think our most impactful part of working with student athletes is giving them a space to talk about things either on the court, on the field, or off the court, off the field. And a lot of the challenges they face, like any other 18- to 24-year-old, they have that in addition to high performing sports expectations. And because we’re not coaches, we’re not family, we’re not faculty, we’re confidential providers that can create a space where they can get some support without expectation that they always have their stuff together. They can come and be vulnerable in our spaces and we can help them with that.”
PATRICK JENKINS
THE PERFORMANCE NUTRITION TEAM CONSISTS OF REGISTERED DIETITIANS (RD) THAT ARE BOARD CERTIFIED SPECIALISTS IN SPORTS DIETETICS (CSSD) AND LICENSED PROVIDERS WITH THE COMMISSION ON DIETETIC REGISTRATION. The Performance Nutrition team works closely with the other Student-Athlete Belonging, Success, Health & High-Performance teams, and are qualified professionals who provide nutrition counseling and recommendations to student-athletes that equips them with the knowledge needed to make decisions on how to fuel their bodies for sport, class, and life.
Clinical Programs and Services provided by the Performance Nutrition team, include:
• Medical nutrition therapy support for micronutrient deficiencies
• Food allergies
• Disordered eating
• Other medical conditions.
Performance Nutrition Programs and Services provided by the Performance Nutrition team include:
• Education on body composition management
• Energy level maintenance
• Fueling for training and competition
• Hydration
• Supplement review
• Support for rest and recovery
“Nutrition, hydration, and sleep are the foundations of athletic performance. We work with our student-athletes to build up from these foundations, empowering them to understand nutrient timing and meal composition’s impact on performance at the highest level. We are grounded in promoting positive relationships with food and body, cultural preferences, and teaching valuable skillsets that last beyond sport.”
MEREDITH PRICE
“One of my favorite examples of a success story is working with Zach Jayne during his 3 years on our Nordic ski team. Zach came in from a smaller school that had limited resources, and his understanding of nutrition related to performance was minimal. He immediately bought in to all of our supportservices, understanding that we were here to help him in all aspects of his life in and out of athletics. Zach took time to read the literature, work with me to customize his nutrition, hydration, and supplementation, and was able to see his results build over time. His drive to constantly improve has allowed him to be successful as an athlete on the NCAA, national, and world stage.”
MEREDITH PRICE Assistant Athletics Director Performance Nutrition
Additionally, the Performance Nutrition team aims to provide nutritional support for 500+ student-athletes through daily meal offerings in our athletics cafeteria and fueling stations, which turns the science of nutrition into real-food application.
Performance Nutrition collaborates closely with the athletics cafeteria executive chef, integrating specific ingredients, plate-coaching, preparation styles, and meal timing considerations to support performance and recovery through cafeteria meals. Our chef and dietitianled cooking classes and grocery store tours provide skillsets beyond sport.
Performance Nutrition values its integrated partnership with the College of Health to provide dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) services that support student-athlete health and wellbeing by analyzing body composition and bone mineral density, informing Health & High-Performance decisions in return-to-play scenarios.
“The Fueling Station is a way for them to connect with each other. All of our teams are welcome here, so it’s just a really great spot to connect over a meal, over a snack. They are so busy throughout the day that they need fueling to support pre-weights, post-weights, pre-class, pre-practice, during practice, post-practice, the list goes on. And so this is really just an easy way for them to get the nutrients that they need for all of those.”
MEREDITH PRICE Assistant Athletics
STUDENT-ATHLETES FACE A VARIETY OF CHALLENGES IN LIFE AND COMPETITION. Our Sport Psychology & Wellness team helps promote high performance in student athletes by helping foster an attitude of resilience and grit in competition. Made up of highly trained, professional, and licensed staff, the Sport Psychology & Wellness office teaches student athletes mental performance tools to address aspects of sport and life.
“We help the U athletes manage their well-being and support them in achieving their personal and performance goals. While being a U athlete is an important part of their identity it is not their whole identity, we focus on providing support to the whole person. It is always so uplifting to watch them perform and see how they utilize the tools we work on in their sport setting.”
ELIZABETH BIRD Assistant Director of Clinical Services and Group Coordinator
In collaboration with the other Student-Athlete Belonging, Success, Health & High-Performance teams, our office aims to create a culture of striving toward the peak of success while maintaining a healthy and self-compassionate mindset.
Clinical programs and services offered by the Sports Psychology and Wellness team include:
• Mental health screening and assessment
• Therapy services
• Crisis support
• Therapy groups and workshops
Out team also teaches student-athletes specific tools to help with:
• Emotional and psychological health promotion
• Relationship enhancement
• Academic stress management
• Treatment of mental health disorders (depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, etc.)
• Psychological aspects of injury
• Diversity and identity challenges
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Additional mental performance services provided by the Sport Psychology & Wellness team include:
• Sport psychology team sessions
• Individual mental performance sessions
• Assessment of mental resiliency
• Consultations with coaching staffs on sport psychology tools; specifically, confidence building, concentration, interpersonal communication, self-talk, goal setting, and preparing for competition
As a staff that values multiculturalism, we approach mental health services with a belief in the strengths of student athletes and resiliency. We strive to demonstrate cultural competency in our work and value all identities represented in our athletic department.
We use a combination of western and eastern approaches to wellness to include talk therapy, group dialogue, animal assisted therapy, meditation and mindfulness, and promoting yoga practices.
“My favorite part of my job is working with student athletes to help improve their mindset and ability to bounce back after either mental health or mental performance struggles in life. We work with incredibly resilient people and I believe success is more than wins. It is about showing up to your life and your teammates and most important, yourself.”
JONATHAN RAVARINO
THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH’S APPLIED HEALTH & PERFORMANCE SCIENCE TEAM IS COMPRISED OF CERTIFIED PERFORMANCE AND SPORTS SCIENTISTS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE HEALTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND PERFORMANCE OF UTAH’S STUDENT-ATHLETES. These Performance Scientists transform raw information into actionable insights that inform decision making to ultimately enhance performance and maximize availability.
In collaboration with the other members of the StudentAthlete Belonging, Success, Health & High-Performance Department, the Applied Health & Performance Science team is committed to laying the scientific foundation to support championship-level performance, enhance the student-athlete experience, and position the University of Utah as a national leader in athlete health, performance, and innovation.
Programs and services provided by the Applied Health & Performance Science team include:
• Student-athlete baseline testing and screening
• Return to play testing and monitoring
• Student-athlete, coach, and support staff education
• Management of training volume, intensity, and density to optimize physiological and physical adaptation and mitigate injury risk
• Transformation of data and research into actionable health and performance insights to inform decision making
Every day, performance scientists collect, analyze, and interpret performance, health, and wellness data to help coaches, medical providers, and performance staff make decisions that keep athletes healthy, available, and performing at the highest level.
However, without a strong foundation of health, high-level performance strategies would not be effective. Performance scientists at Utah empower student-athletes to reach their full potential through education, helping them build lifelong habits that support health, resilience, and performance long after their competitive careers have ended.
Performance Scientists at Utah enhance student-athlete care, inform smarter training practices, improve recovery and freshness, and provide the tools and expertise necessary to maintain a championship-caliber competitive advantage. Together, we are building a future where every student-athlete has the opportunity to pursue excellence at the highest level on and off the field and be a national leader in athlete health, performance, and innovation.
“Our job is to communicate all the information that we collect, so we can make the most informed decision about the student-athlete... It’s seeing them go from what they are when they walk in the building for the first time to who they grow to be as an athlete, a person.”
ANNA CRUSE
“The staff has really molded me into what I am today and really helped me not only on the field, but in life— understanding that you can do hard things, but also my mental, my football IQ, being able to process things a lot faster. It’s really made me into what I think is an NFL draft pick at the end of this year.”
ALEX HARRISON Utah Football
Examples of the technology used by the Applied Health & Performance Science team include:
CATAPULT ON-FIELD MONITORING DEVICES: Catapult devices track the movements of student-athletes on the field, allowing practitioners to make the best decisions regarding training and return-to-play as well as ensuring our student-athletes are physically prepared to win every time they step into competition.
VALD TESTING EQUIPMENT: VALD equipment provides the tools needed to baseline test, continually monitor progress, and benchmark student-athletes in all aspects of their training. The information from these testing tools enhances our ability to make the right decisions about student-athlete training, health, and performance.
“The different groups within the Student-Athlete Belonging, Success, Health & High-Performance Department work together by leveraging every individual’s area of expertise in an environment free of judgment with the student-athlete at the center. Keeping the student-athlete front of mind holds us accountable to provide the highest level of service every day. Working collaboratively helps break down traditional barriers of specific domain experts and gatekeeping information, ultimately enabling wellinformed decisions to benefit the student-athlete.”
GRETCHEN THOMPSON
Assistant Director of Applied Health and Performance Science
“Seeing the joy and excitement athletes experience when they achieve their goals is incredibly meaningful. Equally important is helping them learn how to train effectively not just for their sport, but for life beyond athletics and hopefully find some enjoyment in doing so. These are lessons they carry with them long after their playing careers end.”
THE SPORT PERFORMANCE TEAM IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH INTRADEPARTMENTAL TEAMS TO HELP STUDENT-ATHLETES REACH THE SUMMIT OF THEIR POTENTIAL ON THE FIELD, IN THE CLASSROOM, AND IN LIFE.
Through a holistic, evidence-informed approach, our elite team of certified strength and conditioning specialists focus on developing not only elite athletic performance but also resilient, disciplined, and well-rounded individuals. Programs and services offered by the Sports Performance team include:
• Customized training plans
• Velocity-Based Training (VBT)
• Speed, Agility, and Quickness Change-of-Direction Development
• Sport-Specific Performance Training
• Injury Prevention and Return-to-Play Strategies
• Comprehensive Athlete Assessment and Monitoring
• Load Management and Recovery Optimization
• Energy System Development and Conditioning
• Performance Education and Athlete Development.
“The Red Rocks would not be the same without this staff or even this beautiful facility. I think sometimes we do take it for granted because other places don’t have this, and this is just kind of what we’re used to. But I came in here the other day and I just took a moment to reflect. I’m so grateful to be a part of this amazing program.”
CLARA RAPOSO
Utah Gymnastics
The Sport Performance Department features state-of-theart facilities intentionally designed to meet the diverse needs of our student-athletes. Each of our three distinct training spaces are purpose-built to support the specific demands of the teams and individuals who train within them. These environments are equipped with advanced training technology and sport-specific resources that enable our staff to deliver highly targeted, high-impact programming that requires ongoing investment into stateof-the-art equipment, facilities, and technologies.
“The landscape of college athletics is ever-changing, but the quality of our support staff is something that I believe gives the University of Utah an edge. We have highly qualified, talented practitioners who deeply care about our student-athletes & their experience. I believe that this personal, athlete-centered approach is a recipe for success and fun!”
CARLY FEHLER Assistant Director of Sports Performance, Olympic Sports
WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE STUDENT PART OF STUDENT-ATHLETE, THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH’S ACADEMIC SERVICES TEAM ASSISTS OUR STUDENTATHLETES IN CLIMBING THE SOMETIMES-DAUNTING MOUNTAIN OF A UNIVERSITY EDUCATION AS WELL AS THRIVING ACADEMICALLY, FEELING CONNECTED, AND PREPARING FOR LIFE BEYOND SPORT.
Working with the other Student-Athlete Belonging, Success and Health & High-Performance teams, the highly skilled Academic Service team aims to provide our studentathletes with world-class academic services. Our team of Academic Advisors and Learning Specialists provide personalized support to help student-athletes navigate the demands of both academics and athletics.
Programs and services provided by the Academic Services team include:
• Course selection and registration
• Time management
• Note taking
• Writing
• Test taking strategies
• Study skill development
• Academic accommodations and support
• Adherence to NCAA progress towards degree requirements
• Academic performance monitoring
• Preparation for graduate and professional programs (MCAT, GMAT, LSAT)
“The University of Utah student athletes have consistently shown amazing success in the classroom and working towards graduation, frequently posting record-breaking graduation rates. Utah Student Athletes continue to raise the bar and academically achieve at the highest levels.”
CATHY BADGER
Staff provide guidance and advising for all student-athletes specific to academic program requirements, course selection, and priority registration, including the navigation of campus policies and procedures. As students navigate their academic path, Academic Services provides resources and strategies needed to achieve academic success each semester, moving to graduation and beyond. Within the Burbidge Athletics Academic Center, students utilize a quiet study environment, conducive to the tailored needs of all student-athletes.
“Our goal is to empower student-athletes to excel not only in competition, but also in the classroom by helping them develop the academic skills, discipline, and confidence needed to achieve their goals. By fostering a healthy balance between academics and athletics, we prepare students for success both in their sport and throughout their lives. Supporting students on this journey, celebrating their growth, and helping them realize their full potential is at the heart of everything we do and our ultimate why.”
MARY CHRIS FINNIGAN Director of Academics
At the heart of our Academic Services operation is a commitment to integrating innovative technology with the expertise of our highly skilled, motivated staff members. By utilizing advanced academic tracking and management platforms, our team can securely share, sync, and collaborate on tutoring schedules, progress reports, learning assessments, and proactive academic interventions. This centralized approach is a game changer for our student-athletes, seamlessly tying our academic support network together to monitor student readiness.
Investing in a student-athlete’s education is much more than just checking boxes for eligibility and monitoring study hall hours; it encompasses everything from utilizing a facility specifically designed to accommodate our comprehensive programming, to use cutting-edge learning tools that cater to diverse educational needs.
The Academic Services team strategically aligns their expertise with key campus partners to optimize targeted learning interventions, ensuring the best possible academic outcomes. Ultimately, this creates an empowering environment where student-athletes can excel in the classroom, thrive in the community, and build a robust foundation for life long after their competition days are over.
STUDENT BELONGING AND SUCCESS
OUR STUDENT BELONGING AND SUCCESS TEAM WORKS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE OTHER HEALTH & HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAMS TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT FOR 500+ STUDENTATHLETES. The program aims to provide essential education, resources, and relationships & reassurances necessary for student-athletes to successfully navigate life during and after their time as a Ute.
Programs and services provided by the Student Belonging and Success include:
• Developing critical thinking and decisionmaking skills
• Career preparation
• Financial literacy
• Community service.
“Being an athlete is a significant part of their identity, but it is not the sum of who they are. Seeing the lightbulb come on when students realize they are more than athletes, and learn that they have highly sought and transferable skills and abilities (leadership, teamwork, resiliency, etc...) acquired from their participation in sports. That is what makes it all worth it to me. Knowing I had a small part in making a student feel seen, heard, and valued.”
KEITH EMBRAY
Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student Belonging and Success
THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE FOR ELITE STUDENT-ATHLETES THAN THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH. Just as every student-athlete makes a unique contribution to their team and its success, every dedicated, decorated, and
committed team member of the Student-Athlete Belonging, Success, Health & High-Performance Department plays an important role in the success of each athlete on and off the field.
Every team relies on the talents, skills, and training of each member to achieve greatness. The Student-Athlete Belonging, Success, Health & High-Performance Department is the perfect model of teamwork, with every staff member in each division unified in providing each student-athlete a coordinated, personalized, holistic path to success.
“Each of the offices in the athletic department support the mission of promoting healthy development and success for student-athletes. Each of us focus on a different component of health or high-performance. Together, we promote resilient human beings both on the field and in life.”
DR. JONATHAN RAVARINO
Assistant Athletic Director of Sport Psychology and Wellness
WHILE THERE’S NO QUESTION THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH ATHLETICS STUDENTATHLETE BELONGING, SUCCESS, HEALTH & HIGH-PERFORMANCE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES BEST-IN-CLASS HOLISTIC SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES, WE DON’T DO IT ALONE.
We rely on the support of the entire University of Utah community, particularly that of our most loyal fans who share our vision and goal that are as lofty and lasting as the Wasatch Mountains. This fan and community support allows the Student-Athlete Belonging, Success, Health & High-
Performance Department to continually grow, which in turn assists us in further elevating our student-athletes’ performance at the U and prepare them for post-collegiate success.
We hope you will join us as we help the best collegiate athletes to reach their greatest potential by donating to the StudentAthlete Belonging, Success, Health & High-Performance Department. Just as the most skilled summiteers need the support of trusted mountain guides, we can’t fully elevate our student-athletes without you.
