Training
Medical care of Pacific student-athletes begins with its athletic training staff and a fully operational Athletic Training Center. The center features the latest in injury prevention, rehabilitation, clinical diagnosis and educational research.
The athletic training room is operated and staffed by Director of Athletic Training Chris Pond and Associate Director of Athletic Training Annette Martinez. Additionally, the department staffs three assistant directors: Sara Vargas, Christina Brekelmans and Daniel Jo, as well as two graduate assistants.
Pond and his staff are certified athletic trainers by the Board of Certification (BOC) and members of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), who oversee treatment and medical attention given to all of Pacific's intercollegiate sports. In his 28th year at Pacific, Pond is a 1988 graduate of Utah State, and spent two years as a graduate assistant at the University of Arizona before arriving in Stockton.
Master of Science in Athletic Training
Pacific's Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) is a full-time cohort (team) model graduate program located in Stockton that consists of 60 units taught over two years, beginning with a 10 week summer session and pre-season internship the second summer. You will learn through extensive hands-on experiences with athletes, and excellent classroom and laboratory instruction from experienced caring faculty. The program will prepare you to become a highly qualified health care professional who collaborates with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinic
al diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation for athletic and patients, and pass the national certification examination.
Pacific Athletic Training alumni are currently working for the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), Oregon State University, Washington State University, and various other colleges.
If you are interested in the MSAT program, please contact program director Thomas "TK" Koesterer, PhD, ATC at tkoesterer@pacific.edu or 209-946-2982. More information about the program can be found at www.pacific.edu.
The University of the Pacific Athlete Performance is dedicated to helping our student-athletes improve speed, strength, and conditioning as related to each sport. We are committed to creating a safe and positive training environment in which athletes want to work hard and improve not only their physical development, but also their mental development. 
The University of the Pacific Athlete Performance staff is committed to principles of ethical conduct, integrity, and excellence, which will prepare the student-athlete for personal growth both during and beyond the competitive years of collegiate athletics. We will prepare a safe and comprehensive training environment to include, but not limited to, increasing sports performance, reducing the potential risk of injury, and education about proper nutritional lifestyle.
Performance
Philosophy
The University of the Pacific Athlete Performance is dedicated to helping our student-athletes improve speed, strength, and conditioning as related to each sport. We are committed to creating a safe and positive training environment in which athletes want to work hard and improve not only their physical development, but also their mental development.
The University of the Pacific Athlete Performance staff is committed to principles of ethical conduct, integrity, and excellence, which will prepare the student-athlete for personal growth both during and beyond the competitive years of collegiate athletics. We will prepare a safe and comprehensive training environment to include, but not limited to, increasing sports performance, reducing the potential risk of injury, and education about proper nutritional lifestyle
Strength in Power
Ground-based, multi-joint, free weights, machine based exercises are used to improve strength and power. We utilize scientifically proven methods to develop training programs throughout the year, drawing from weightlifting, powerlifting, calisthenics, and other disciplines to construct a program that most benefits each sport and athlete individually.
Energy System
Duration of play, work to rest ratios, and movement intensity are assessed to create a comprehensive conditioning plan most suitable to the demands of each sport. Various means, including footwork and agility drills, speed work; interval training, tempo runs, and other sport specific modalities are incorporated to be preparing athletes for competition.
Energy Prevention and Rehabilitation
Through analysis of the sport and athlete, the strength and conditioning coach inputs specific "prehab" exercises in the training program. These exercises focus on strengthening areas of the body that are commonly injured in a specific sport. By improving strength or flexibility in muscle that are weak, tight, or overused many injuries can be avoided before they happen.
Should an athlete suffer an injury the strength and conditioning staff will coordinate with the sports medicine staff to develop a plan to maintain strength, power, and conditioning levels as much as possible while working around the injured area.
Punishment
The University of Pacific Athletic Performance staff will NEVER take part in or take and athlete through a "Punishment" based workout. A student athlete will never be asked to take part in a workout that is designed to have them fail or work to a level that is unsafe. Every workout that is undertaken by a staff member of University of the Pacific Athletic Performance Staff must be calculated. All workouts performed by student athletes are held to a proper intensity, volume, time, and specificity towards the athletes increased performance of that student athlete's sport.
Nutritional Supplements
University of the Pacific believes in a food first culture to maximize the athletic potential and wellbeing of student athletes. While some athletes may need specific dietary supplements to meet nutrient needs, most athletes consume more than adequate nutrients from a balanced diet.
Athletes interested in dietary supplements need to be aware that the risk of contamination and poor manufacturing practices increase the chance of inadvertently consuming banned substances, putting eligibility at risk.
In accordance with NCAA Division I rules and regulations, Pacific does not provide supplements that are impermissible per NCAA Bylaw 16.5.2 (g) or that contain substances from the NCAA Banned Drug List. Athletes should be informed that eating real food, training responsibly and getting enough rest leads to success without the potential consequences of taking dietary supplements.
Athletes are responsible for what they put into their body and must consult with Athletics Department Staff prior to consuming any supplement.
