Eric Schmitt is the Director of Sports Performance at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he oversees all aspects of the strength & conditioning and nutritional needs of the 450 Gaucho student-athletes across 20 programs. He came to UCSB after serving as an assistant sports performance director at UCLA, where he was responsible for the assessment, design, and implementation of the men’s soccer, men and women’s golf, and men and women’s water polo teams athletic performance programs. Schmitt designed and implemented all performance enhancement programming, from in-season and off-season sport specific preparation to movement skills, plyometric, speed, agility, conditioning, and injury prevention.
Before arriving at UCLA, Schmitt held a dual graduate associate position in strength and conditioning and applied nutrition at Springfield College. As a Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, he worked primarily with the men’s lacrosse and soccer teams. He has completed various internships, such as Cal Poly SLO and Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning (Boston, MA), and most recently with the San Jose Sharks Hockey Club.
Schmitt earned his Bachelor of Science from California Polytechnic State University with a concentration in kinesiology, graduating magna cum laude. He then obtained a Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning from Springfield College. Schmitt has his NSCA certifications as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He is Functional Movement Systems levels 1 and 2 certified and also holds certifications with United States of America Weightlifting and Precision Nutrition.
