University of Connecticut Athletics
Mike Rehfeldt Joins MBB Staff As Director Of Sports Performance
7/8/2020 11:51:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STORRS, Conn. --- UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley has announced that Mike Rehfeldt has joined the UConn Sports Performance Department as the director of sports performance for men's basketball. Rehfeldt will be responsible for all in-season and off-season aspects concerning strength and conditioning training for the men's basketball student-athletes.
Rehfeldt comes to UConn after spending the last eight years as the director of sports performance for men's basketball at the University of Cincinnati, which added to his extensive experience in strength and conditioning for basketball and football teams at the amateur, collegiate and professional level.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join Coach Hurley and his staff at UConn," Rehfeldt said. "I feel incredibly blessed and thankful to be part of a program that receives such tremendous support from the university and the community."
Rehfeldt, 38, was hired at Cincinnati in 2012 and helped the Bearcats make an NCAA Tournament appearance in every season until last season's tourney was cancelled by the pandemic.
"We are very pleased to add a coach of Mike's experience and expertise to our staff,"Â Hurley said. "We were able to see first-hand the success he had working with the players at Cincinnati and we expect him to continue that success at UConn as we strive to build a program that wins championships."
While at Cincinnati, Rehfeldt was responsible for the physical development of such NBA players as Sean Kilpatrick, Troy Caupain, and Jacob Evans III, American Conference Player of the Year Gary Clark and AAC Defensive Player of the Year Tre Scott.
"What I love about being a coach is the ability to foster deep and meaningful relationships, being part of something greater than myself and the daily opportunity to have a positive impact on others," Rehfeldt said. "There is nothing more rewarding than watching student-athletes grow and develop, not just on the court, but as people."
Previous to his eight years at Cincinnati, Rehfeldt spent a year as a strength and conditioning assistant with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, which followed two years as the head strength and conditioning coach with the UFL's Sacramento Mountain Lions and three years as a strength and conditioning assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars. While with the Jaguars, he also served as the director of athletic development at the S3 Athletic Development Center at Yates in Jacksonville.
Rehfeldt, a native of Blaine, Minn., is a 2005 graduate of St. Cloud University with a BS in physical education. He began his career in strength and conditioning as a volunteer with the Minnesota Vikings and continued as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Minnetonka High School while he was in college.
"It's my mission to dedicate, commit, and focus my expertise in athletic enhancement through physical development, education and reinforcement," Rehfeldt said. "I strive to develop the physical attributes in each athlete so the team can perform at optimal levels. We will educate players on proper nutritional strategies, recovery techniques, and lifestyle choices. We want to reinforce culture and goals to set a strong base for on-court success."Â
Rehfeldt and his wife, Elise, are the parents of a daughter, Olivia.
