When Ryan Fowler ('07) was an undergrad at CWU, he knew he could only help his career prospects by becoming a strength coach for the men's rugby team. As an exercise science major, he also served as a first responder for intramural sports programs and helped club sports athletes rehab their injuries.

Those hands-on experiences proved to be the catalyst for everything Fowler has done for the past 17 years as a top-flight strength and conditioning coach.

"That opportunity started everything for me," he said, adding that his minor in athletic training and sports medicine helped put him over the top. "That job gave me a way to earn the demonstrated experience and diversify my background, necessary to get a job in the highly competitive industry."

Soon after graduation, Fowler interviewed with the Kansas City Royals Baseball Club. As it turned out, his position with the Wildcat rugby team gave him an edge.

"I was able to demonstrate that I had the kind of experience they needed," he said, "and that helped assure them I could do whatever they needed me to do."

Fowler spent three years as a minor-league strength and conditioning coach with the Royals, and about a year with the University of Washington before landing his current position as the strength and conditioning coordinator at the Naval Special Warfare Center in 2011.

Based out of San Diego, Fowler spends much of his time on location, training instructors from elite military units, such as the Navy SEALs. The federal civilian role also requires him to develop virtual training resources to train individuals and specialty units around the world, as well as making site visits to rural training locations to make sure facilities are well-equipped for special operators to maintain their physical readiness.

"My job is to help them become even better at what they do," he said. "There's a major physical component, but the trainings are also very analytical. I teach the instructors how to apply certain concepts, and it's up to them to decide how that approach fits with their teams."

All of Fowler's hard work paid off last summer when he received the Tactical Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). The annual honor recognizes a coach whose influence within his or her assigned military, law enforcement, or fire and rescue setting exceeds that of their peers.

The NSCA is a nonprofit association dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning and related sport science professions around the world. The organization empowers professionals to maximize their impact by sharing evidence-based knowledge and practical applications by offering industry-leading certifications, research journals, career development services, networking opportunities, and continuing education.

"It was incredibly humbling to receive this award," said Fowler, who joined the Army ROTC program at Central before serving as an enlisted infantryman in Iraq in 2004. "I put my best out there every day, but I don't do it for recognition. So many other people around the country are doing a great job, and to be singled out like this is hard to comprehend."

Fellow CWU alum Joseph "Reilly" Kelleher ('08) won the NSCA Tactical Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award in 2022, adding to the CWU Exercise Science Department's elite reputation. Kelleher, who grew up in Ellensburg, currently serves as the head strength and conditioning coach at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Alaska.

Community of Professionals

Fowler pointed to a number of recent CWU alumni, including some of his classmates, who have gone on to become highly regarded strength and conditioning coaches and certified athletic trainers.

Other notable alums who now hold high-profile positions include Kenny Matanane (Cincinnati Reds), Mark Brennan (Space Force), Greg Hovey (U.S. Customs and Border Protection), Nate Brookreson (Seattle Kraken), Chattin Hill (formerly Los Angeles Lakers), Bryce Daub (University of Oklahoma basketball), and Zach Nielsen (U.S. Air Force).

In addition, Dave Stricklin (Seattle Seahawks) and Dan Shimensky (Denver Nuggets) serve as certified athletic trainers and work closely with their teams' strength and conditioning coaches. Another CWU alumnus, Rob Scheidegger, serves as Vice President for Athlete Health for the Seattle Mariners.

"It always surprised me to see how many of us found our way into high-level athletics from around the same time I was there," said Fowler, who went on to earn a master's degree in exercise science and health promotion from California University of Pennsylvania.

Fowler credits the CWU Exercise Science faculty with helping him build a solid foundation for his career. He particularly enjoyed the anatomy class led by Dr. Leo D'Acquisto because the material is foundational in the field of strength and conditioning. Understanding the way the body moves is crucial in the initial rehabilitation of injured athletes, as well as enhancing the performance of fully functional athletes, Fowler explained.  

"Dr. D'Acquisto's cadaver lab was one of our favorites because he did such a great job of keeping us engaged and wanting to learn more," he said. "The exercise science program at CWU is very clinically based, and it really helps prepare you well for what you're going to do in your career."

Fowler noted that there are many directions one can take with a degree in exercise science. But when you combine a military background and athletic training expertise, as he did, the possibilities are endless—as long as you maintain your focus on helping others.

"Wherever I've gone, it's always about putting my audience first and looking out for their well-being," Fowler said. "When it comes to my work, I'm last. My goal is to serve others and, above all, be a professional at all times. I've had a very rewarding career so far, and I consider myself very lucky."