The University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) Sports Science program welcomes its new director, Tim Suchomel, who comes to Pitt after leading the Sport Physiology and Performance Coaching program at Carroll University in Wisconsin, and developing and directing the Carroll University Sports Performance Institute. SHRS leadership and Sports Medicine and Nutrition (SMN) Department faculty are excited for Suchomel to guide the already successful Master of Science program into its next chapter with his established record in student mentorship, course and curriculum development, program administration, and creative and innovative instruction strategies and learning enhancements.
“Dr. Suchomel’s career to date has been remarkable in many respects and the degree of accomplishment and professional prominence he has attained is impressive,” says SMN Department Chair Kevin Conley. “He has contributed significantly to the advancement of human performance, and it was clear throughout his recruitment that he is a highly respected member of the scientific community. I really appreciate the energy Tim has brought to our department and I’ve seen first-hand the ways he is strengthening our partnership with the Department of Athletics. It’s very exciting to have him as part of our Sports Medicine and Nutrition team.”
Suchomel is well known in the sports science profession for his research that focuses on strength and power development using different training strategies and athlete monitoring that began with his Master of Science in human performance at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and continued during his PhD in sports physiology and performance at East Tennessee State University. He holds over 110 peer-reviewed publications, has contributed to 20 peer-reviewed conference proceedings, delivered 62 podium and 25 poster presentations, and published 11 book chapters and a textbook. As an associate professor, he taught courses in human and exercise physiology, kinesiology, assessment of athletic performance, strength and conditioning, coaching theory and graduate research.
Coming to the Pitt Sports Science Program
Suchomel’s prolific academic and research accomplishments encouraged University of Pittsburgh Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Performance Stephanie Mock to initially tap him to apply for the position of director of the Sports Science program.
“Tim is a game changer in our field,” states Mock. “He is the perfect blend of being extremely established in the strength and conditioning AND sports science space. I knew he would take our academic and athletic department to new heights with our unique collaboration with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.”
The opportunity to grow and challenge himself drove Suchomel to the position at Pitt. As the program director, he has the unique opportunity to make an impact on a sports science program on a grand scale—both in terms of being connected to Division I collegiate sports and to a top R1 research institution—and to expand opportunities for students.
“The position at Pitt serves as the perfect opportunity to help me grow as a professional while working with an incredible group of individuals within Pitt Athletics, SHRS, and the Neuromuscular Research Laboratory (NMRL),” says Suchomel. “The ability to combine a master’s program focused on sports science and athletics is amazing and it allows me to take what I’ve learned in my previous positions and help develop young professionals who hope to work in elite sport.”
Making Opportunities for Future Sports Scientists
One of Suchomel’s many strengths leading an academic program is how he provides students with opportunities to learn inside and outside the classroom—collaborating and networking with coaches, staff and administrative heads of athletic departments, and completing sports science research projects aimed to enhance athletic performance and reduce injuries. His previous students have made more than 50 presentations at professional conferences which lends to his ability to successfully mentor students in developing their research and scholarly acumen.
Beyond data analysis and research, Suchomel has a keen awareness of the importance for students to make a name for themselves by presenting their findings at regional and national conferences and networking with potential new colleagues. “I tell students all the time, it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you,” he says. For students on the precipice of their professional careers, it’s important to him that they develop these soft skills to communicate effectively with athletes, coaches or other researchers.
The University of Pittsburgh Sports Science Internship
The advantage of working in “the City of Champions” is that Pitt Sports Science faculty have developed an unparallel network of staff and coaches in Pitt’s Division I teams and in Pittsburgh professional sports teams. As a result, each Sports Science student is placed in an internship with a Pitt or local team for a unique hands-on experience unlike any other institution.
The Sports Science internship combines didactic learning and practical application, with students working directly with athletes not only on strength and conditioning, but also testing and monitoring their performance. Just a few opportunities for the 2024-2025 cohort include working with the NCAA #1 ranked Pitt women’s volleyball, #3 ranked men’s soccer and #23 ranked Pitt football teams, as well as the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Suchomel says, “The opportunities students can have and the connections they can make with athletes, strength and conditioning staff, and coaches prepares them for the profession and the challenges they may face in their careers.”
Suchomel wants each athlete to trust the students and the science and understand that they are all contributing to the same goal—to win, to compete and to develop their performance the best that they can so they become top contenders for conference and national championships.
“We want to see them all progress and get better, but we also have to know when to scale things back. So when we are testing and we see decreases in performance, that kind of gives us a rationale for an evidence-based decision of saying, ‘Maybe we need to scale you back to make sure that you are at your peak performance at certain times.’”
Sports Science Capstone Projects and NMRL Research
Throughout the program, Pitt Sports Science students develop a capstone project including a research proposal, data collection and analysis, written paper and formal presentation. Their capstone research can be based on athlete data collected and analyzed during their internship and may include opportunities to work with researchers and state-of-the-science equipment at the NMRL.
“The capstone projects vary,” explains Suchomel. “but the data collected with the teams during their internships can be used to develop research abstracts and journal manuscripts. My goal is for all the students to be able to submit a research abstract to the National Strength and Conditioning Association Conference each year.”
Vision for the Sports Science Program
Suchomel has been at Pitt for only two months, but his vision for the near and long term is clear. Initially, he wants to expand and hone in on what is going well in the Sports Science program—such as data analytics—while adding new courses and opportunities for students, and exploring a second track focused on strength and conditioning. In the future, he envisions that Pitt sports science academics could evolve to include greater accessibility to more students by offering multiple degree options.
Coming to Pitt was Suchomel’s opportunity to channel his 12 years of experience into making Pitt “the Mecca of sports science.” The University’s top athletes bring their hard work and innate talent to the game, and with the guidance and vision of Suchomel and the students of the Sports Science program, their full championship potential will be realized for years to come.
