OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Stevenson University Athletics has announced the hiring of Aaron Jahnke as the department's Head Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Jahnke joins the Mustangs after serving as the Director of Sport Performance at The Catholic University of America, where he oversaw department-wide strength and conditioning operations for 24 varsity athletic programs.
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Aaron Jahnke to the Mustang family as our new Head Strength and Conditioning Coach," said Stevenson Director of Athletics Jordan Hoover. "Aaron's passion for student-athlete development and his commitment to pushing our athletes to their fullest potential aligns directly with our vision for Mustang Athletics. Strength and conditioning is a critical component of our commitment to competitive excellence and the overall student-athlete experience here at Stevenson, and Aaron will play a vital role in preparing our student-athletes to compete at the highest level, while building the discipline, accountability, and resilience necessary for success both in competition and beyond. We look forward to the impact Aaron will have across our programs as we continue to raise the standard for Mustang Athletics."
During his tenure at Catholic, Jahnke designed and implemented year-round strength and conditioning programs tailored to sport-specific demands, competitive schedules and individual athlete needs. His responsibilities included overseeing athlete performance testing, monitoring training loads, managing facility operations and collaborating with coaches, athletic trainers and sports medicine personnel to support student-athlete development.
Jahnke also played an integral role in implementing advanced sport performance technology, utilizing strength, power, speed, jump and velocity-based training data to evaluate athletic development and guide programming decisions. Additionally, he worked closely with medical personnel to develop individualized return-to-play progressions for student-athletes recovering from injuries.
"I'm excited to join Stevenson University and be part of building something special," said Jahnke. "I'm grateful to Jordan Hoover and the entire hiring committee for this opportunity. My goal is to create a positive, competitive environment that challenges student-athletes physically and mentally while developing the discipline, leadership, and habits that lead to success both in sports and in life."
Prior to his time at Catholic, Jahnke served as a Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Salisbury University from 2023-24. In that role, he developed and implemented training programs for football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's soccer and men's and women's tennis. He also assisted with strength and conditioning programming for men's and women's lacrosse and field hockey.
Jahnke's experience also includes a strength and conditioning internship at the University of Maryland during the summer of 2023, where he worked primarily with the football program. During his internship, he assisted with training sessions, athlete performance testing and the implementation of sport performance technologies.
In addition to his collegiate experience, Jahnke has held strength and conditioning positions at several private training facilities and athletic programs, including Fox Swim Club and Oakdale High School. His background includes working with athletes across various competitive levels, from youth development to collegiate athletics.
A former collegiate football student-athlete at Salisbury University, Jahnke was a four-time conference champion, a two-time All-Conference defensive player and a team captain during the 2022 season. He was also a member of the Sea Gulls' 2019 NCAA Division III quarterfinal team.
Jahnke earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in Athletic Coaching from Salisbury University in December 2021 before completing his Master of Science in Health and Human Performance in May 2024.
