Chip Pugh is in his fourth year as Tennessee Tech’s head strength and conditioning coach. He oversees the physical development of student-athletes in all 16 sports, providing support in building toward championships.
   
Pugh served three years in the same position at Winthrop University where he created and developed a highly successful strength and conditioning program that helped win 12 conference championships.
   
An alumnus of Ohio University, he was an offensive lineman on the football team while earning a bachelor’s degree in sport industry and a master’s degree in physical education.
   
Pugh believes that the qualities that athletes can develop in strength and conditioning will not only aid in their athletic development, but will also help them build quality character components necessary for life.
   
A native of Parkersburg, W. Va., he began his coaching career at his alma mater as an assistant strength and conditioning coach where he primarily worked with men’s and women’s track, men’s and women’s swimming, and women’s soccer.  He also assisted coach Ethan Reeve, currently the head strength and conditioning coach at Wake Forest, with football while at Ohio.
   
After leaving Ohio University he became the head strength and conditioning coach for football at Marietta (Ohio) College, where he also worked as an assistant football coach.  Additionally, during his two years at Marietta College he also served as a campus minister to the college.
   
Pugh is a certified member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches’ association.  He also holds the Club Coach certification through USA Weightlifting.
   
He is a Level-I certified CrossFit trainer and conducts personal training classes open to the public using the CrossFit methods.

Chip and his wife, the former Nicole Carey, were married July 29, 2000. They live in Cookeville, where they are active in sprint triathlons and CrossFit.