Gregory Miskinis '08
Gregory Miskinis, BS, 2008 graduate of Exercise Science
The Kinesiology program prepared me for a life of success.
For Greg, Penn State has been an integral part of his entire life. He was hired within the athletic department a week after graduating. Throughout his time here, he has worked, in some aspect, with all 31 varsity athletic teams. He has had the privilege to work with over 56 professional athletes, many of whom he continues to create programming for today. Greg has developed and coached draft picks in different professional leagues including the NBA, NFL, NWSL (women’s soccer), NLL (men’s lacrosse) and WNLL (women’s lacrosse).
In preparing teams for competing at the highest levels, Greg has developed both in-season and off-season programs that combine speed development, power production, explosive mobility, conditioning, proper warm-up and cool down techniques, flexibility, agility, and regeneration. He incorporates programs with a high nutritional focus to help student-athletes build and maintain effective habits and achieve high levels of both physical and mental resiliency. In addition to introducing several measures of wearable technology to track and improve preparation, performance and recovery, he performs the sport science research to help develop trends, implore and explain data, and prevent injuries with his designated teams.
Penn State has been Greg’s entire career, a very uncommon trait in today's athletic carousel. In that time, he’s been blessed to be a small part of 2 Big Ten Football Championships, 2 BCS Bowls, a Women's Soccer National Championship, 9 Big Ten titles overall with various teams, and he’s helped guide 9 different Penn State athletic teams to postseason competition!
Greg’s education in Kinesiology prepared him for a life of success. Other than the understanding of subject matter itself, the principles of the department taught him to constantly seek more knowledge, while having an endless pursuit of commitment to helping others become better in their given fields and lives.
Greg’s time at Penn State has given him lifelong relationships and the ability to have an impact on future generations. While he continues to make memories here, he will never forget playing football for Joe Paterno and participating in KINES 456 with Assistant Teaching Professor, Lori Gravish Hurtack.
Currently, Greg is the Assistant Director of Performance Enhancement for the University, in addition to his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology he also has a Master’s in Education from Penn State. He holds certifications with Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Performance Enhancement and Corrective Exercise Specialist, USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach Certified, Functional Movement Systems Level 1, and a Level 1 Precision Nutrition Coach. Clearly, Greg cares and is passionate about his mission to help Penn State athletes be the best they can be. It comes as no surprise that he makes time to guest lecture for a few Kinesiology courses from time to time. Thank you, Greg, for all you do for the department and Penn State Athletics.