VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)-Valley City State University athletic director Jill DeVries announced today that Ethan Bakken has been hired as VCSU’s head strength and conditioning coach.

A native of Lakeville, Minn., Bakken recently completed two seasons as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant at Northern State University, an NCAA Division II school in Aberdeen, S.D.

Bakken becomes the first full-time strength and conditioning coach at VCSU. He will create and oversee various workout programs tailored to the specific needs of the department’s 14 athletic teams. DeVries said the addition of a full-time strength and conditioning coach to the athletic department will benefit Viking student-athletes through professional instruction and expertise in their weight room activities and conditioning sessions.

“Adding a strength and conditioning coach to our staff will provide more than 280 student-athletes access to a certified professional that will enhance their overall experience at VCSU,” said DeVries. “We are very excited to introduce Ethan Bakken as our first head strength and conditioning coach. His passion and expertise enhance our growing department and allows VCSU to provide a top-notch experience to our student-athletes.”

Bakken starts his new position at VCSU on Aug. 1. VCSU football and volleyball student-athletes report to campus during the first week of August for preseason practice.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead the Viking strength and conditioning program,” said Bakken. “I want to thank athletic director Jill DeVries for this opportunity, along with all my mentors and former student-athletes that helped develop me into the coach I am today. Valley City State University provides the tools for their athletes to excel on and off the field of play. My goal is to make the strength and conditioning program another tool to help student-athletes at VCSU to be successful.”

Bakken is no stranger to collegiate athletics, competing as a student-athlete on the University of Mary football team from 2010-15. He earned a bachelor of science degree in exercise science at University of Mary, and just completed a masters of education in sport performance and leadership at Northern State University.

He is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a USA Weightlifting Level 1 Sports Performance Coach. Along with his time as a graduate assistant at Northern State, Bakken has also completed strength and conditioning internships at University of Minnesota, North Dakota State University and Sanford Power.

Valley City State University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and a conference member of the North Star Athletic Association. VCSU’s athletic department features about 280 student-athletes competing in 14 varsity sports.