Mike Linn enters his first season as Sewanee’s Director of Athletic Performance in 2026-27. In his role, Linn oversees strength training, nutrition, fitness, and athletic performance initiatives for the University’s 26 varsity programs and more than 600 student-athletes.
Linn brings more than two decades of experience at the NCAA Division I level and in the private sector, having worked with thousands of student-athletes while developing comprehensive strength and conditioning, nutrition, and performance programs. He oversees Sewanee’s athletic weight room and leads the development of a unified, athlete-first training model designed to support student-athlete performance, health, and development.
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. He also oversaw weight room operations, equipment management, scheduling, and athlete safety, while collaborating with athletic trainers to integrate return-to-play protocols and create continuity between rehabilitation and performance training.
Prior to Cleveland State, Linn spent 14 years at UCLA, serving 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 the Bruins’ athletic department. His responsibilities included supervising strength and conditioning programming, developing student-athlete mentor programs, managing departmental budgets, hiring staff, and implementing policies supporting NCAA compliance and student-athlete success. He also served as the sport administrator for UCLA baseball from 2015-18.
Before joining UCLA, Linn served as Vice President of Performance for Velocity Sports Performance, where he developed training programs across 63 franchise locations serving more than 20,000 athletes nationwide. He also led education and mentorship initiatives for hundreds of coaches.
Earlier in his career, Linn served as 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 and Conditioning 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.
A former three-year letterman in football at UCLA, Linn earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University. His experience as a collegiate student-athlete informs his approach to coaching, leadership, and student-athlete development. His wife, Karen (Nelson), was a two-time All-American gymnast at UCLA.
