Colgate University Athletics

Colgate's Paul Helsel was named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association in May 2016.
 
Helsel serves as Colgate's Strength and Conditioning Director, having arrived from Old Dominion in July 2013. He oversees the Raider strength and conditioning program for 25 varsity sports.
 
The honor of Master Strength and Conditioning Coach is the highest given in the profession. Master Strength and Conditioning coaches Terry Jones from the University of Alabama and LeBaron Caruthers from Waco Sports Academy presented Helsel with his ceremonial blue MSCC Jacket last month at the annual CSCCa National Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
 
"I am extremely honored and blessed to have received my Master Strength & Conditioning Coach credential from the CSCCa," Helsel said. "I was present at the very first CSCCa National Conference in Salt Lake City back in 2001 where some of the legends in the field such as Boyd Eply from the University of Nebraska and Jeff Madden from the University of Texas were honored by being the first class to receive the honor. I immediately made it a goal of mine to someday hold that same distinction..
 
"I am truly honored to be in the same class as the greats in my profession."

Helsel began his career in strength and conditioning at the University of Alabama, where he served as a student-assistant, graduate assistant and later a full-time intern for the Crimson Tide from 1991-98. He climbed the ranks at one of the nation's top athletics programs while working alongside the staffs for football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, gymnastics, volleyball, swimming and diving, and men's and women's golf.

During Helsel's second year as a student-assistant, Alabama won the 1992 football national championship with a victory over Miami in the 1993 USF&G Sugar Bowl.

The Jasper, Ala., native earned both his undergraduate and master's degrees at Alabama, in 1994 and 2000, respectively. 

Helsel at Old Dominion spent six years as Director of Strength and Conditioning. He oversaw a three-member staff of full-timers along with numerous interns and undergraduate assistants. That group was a key part of the Monarchs' implementation and sudden rise as one of the nation's top FCS football programs.

Before Old Dominion, Helsel spent six years at Southeast Missouri State as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. During his time in Cape Girardeau, Helsel designed and implemented his program for nine sports and also coordinated a six-figure renovation of the department's athletic weight-training facility.

Helsel's first full-time position in the field was at Marshall from 1998 to 2001. He oversaw six varsity sports and cheerleading, while assisting with the Thundering Herd football program.

Helsel is married to the former Mila Keeney of Chesapeake, Ohio. They are the parents of a daughter, Saban Joyce, and reside in Hamilton.