GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado athletic department is excited to announce it has hired AJ Mott as its head strength and conditioning coach. Mott becomes the second full-time strength and conditioning coach in program history.
 
"We're excited to have AJ join us in Mountaineer athletics," Western Director of Athletics Miles Van Hee said. "The strength and conditioning program is a crucial part of our department and AJ has the enthusiasm, experience and knowledge to advance our Mountaineer student-athletes."

Mott's first day at Western will be Aug. 3.

Mott comes to Gunnison from Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham where he served as the head strength and conditioning coach for the Devils since 2016. He designed, implemented and oversaw the program for 19 sports, designed and oversaw a complete facility upgrade, did data entry and tracking for all student-athletes and several other duties that helped improve FDU-Florham athletics – including developing two football All-Americans.
 
"It is extremely exciting to be given the opportunity to lead the strength and conditioning department at Western Colorado University," Mott said. "I look forward to working with all the Mountaineer athletes and assisting them in achieving both team and personal goals on and off the playing field."
 
Mott served as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant from 2015-16 at FDU-Florham and also worked part-time or interned at the University of North Carolina, University of South Carolina, University of Kentucky and Grand View University.
 
Mott certifications include: USA Weight Lifting Level One Coach, CPR/AED and NSCA: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Mott earned his bachelor's degree in health promotion with a concentration in kinesiology at Grand View University (Des Moines, Iowa) where he was also a wrestler for five years – earning 2015 Academic All-American honors in 2015. He earned his master's degree in sports administration from FDU-Florham in 2017.