NATCHITOCHES – Aaron Potoshnik has been promoted to assistant strength coach, announced Northwestern State head strength coach Jared Myatt.
 
Potoshnik came to NSU as a graduate assistant in 2016, aiding the athletics program through a strength coach transition this summer.
 
His hiring is subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, which includes Northwestern State.
 
The Renton, Washington, native supervises strength programs for soccer, men's basketball, softball and tennis. Potoshnik helps craft football's strength program.
 
A 2015 graduate of Washington State in exercise science, Potoshnik spent the early part of 2016 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Washington sports performance complex. 
 
As an undergraduate, Potoshnik was a strength and conditioning intern from August 2014-December 2015 at Washington State, working primarily with the Cougars' soccer, swimming, rowing, baseball and track and field teams. 
 
"I knew of Aaron before I got here, and promoting him to the assistant position was a no-brainer because of the relationships he's already made as a graduate assistant," said Myatt, who started at NSU in July. "He was running the strength and conditioning department until I arrived, and he did a great job.
 
"He brings a variety of experience being at schools like Washington and Washington State, and he's worked with a multitude of sports. He brings a high level of positivity to this program."
 
During that time, Potoshnik also was an exercise physiology and performance laboratory research assistant. 
 
Potoshnik is an NSCA certificed strength and conditioning specialist, a certified USA Weightlifting sports performance coach (level 1) and is American Heart Association CPR/AED certified.