General 7/28/2026 12:50:00 PM

Mike Linn named Sewanee Athletics Director of Athletic Performance

SEWANEE, Tenn. – Sewanee Director of Athletics John Shackelford announced the hiring of Mike Linn as the University's new Director of Athletic Performance. Linn brings more than two decades of experience at the Division I level and in the private sector, having worked with thousands of student-athletes while leading comprehensive strength and conditioning, nutrition, and performance programs. He will oversee Sewanee's brand new athletic weight room, which will serve as the cornerstone of student-athlete development for all Tiger programs.

"Mike Linn ushers in a new era for Sewanee Athletics," said Shackelford. "As Director of Athletic Performance, Mike will lead strength training, nutrition, and fitness for our 26 varsity programs, including over 600 student-athletes in Sewanee's brand new weight training facility inside the Center for Athletic Performance. Mike's vast experience at the highest levels of NCAA competition will allow Sewanee's student-athletes access to the best possible training programs available under his expert guidance. It's a real pleasure to welcome Mike and Karen to the Sewanee community."

Linn most recently served as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Cleveland State Community College, where he designed and implemented athletic performance programs for every varsity team, while overseeing all aspects of weight room operations, equipment management, scheduling, and athlete safety. He also collaborated closely with athletic trainers to integrate return-to-play protocols to ensure continuity between rehabilitation and performance training programs.

Prior to Cleveland State, Linn spent 14 years at UCLA as Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Performance and Nutrition. During his tenure, he directed the strategic planning and administration of athletic performance and nutrition services for more than 600 student-athletes across UCLA's athletic department. His responsibilities included supervising strength and conditioning programming, developing student-athlete mentor programs, managing departmental budgets, hiring staff, and implementing policies that supported NCAA compliance and regulations and student-athlete success. He also served as the sport administrator for the Bruins' baseball program from 2015-18.

"Sewanee's sense of community and commitment to the student-athlete experience immediately stood out to me," said Linn. "This is a place where relationships matter, and student-athletes are truly supported. I'm excited to join this department, collaborate with coaches and staff across all programs to help build a unified, athlete-first training model that elevates performance and strengthens the Sewanee experience."

Before his time at UCLA, Linn served as the Vice President of Performance for Velocity Sports Performance, where he developed training programs across 63 franchise locations serving more than 20,000 athletes nationwide, while leading education and mentorship initiatives for hundreds of coaches. Earlier in his career, he was the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Saint Louis University, overseeing performance programming for more than 350 student-athletes competing across 16 Division I sports.

Throughout his career, Linn has earned numerous industry certifications, including Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach Emeritus (RSCC*E), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength Coaches Association, USA Weightlifting Club Coach, Functional Movement Screen Certified, and Precision Nutrition Level 1 Nutrition Certified Coach. He has also been actively involved in student-athlete mentorship, wellness initiatives, and coaching education throughout his career. A former three-year letterman in football at UCLA, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts, Linn brings firsthand experience as a collegiate student-athlete to his coaching and leadership philosophy. His wife Karen (Nelson) also competed as a two-time All-American in gymnastics at UCLA.

Linn's arrival coincides with an exciting new chapter for Sewanee Athletics as the University opens its new state-of-the-art weight room. The new facility provides student-athletes with 16 half racks, free weights, glute ham machines, and 30 yards of purple synthetic turf, along with the new community workout center that includes all new Life Fitness Insignia selectorized weight machines, new Life Fitness Cardio machines, two brand new Hammer Strength half racks, and a free weight area.

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