SEWARD, Neb. – Concordia University, Nebraska Athletics has announced the appointment of Desmond Cooney as Assistant Lifting Sports Coach and Strength and Conditioning Coach. In both areas, Cooney will team up with Head Lifting Sports Coach and Director of Strength and Conditioning Freddie Myles. Cooney has taken on the role formerly held by Chevy Stout, who resigned his position in August.
A Lake Zurich, Ill., native and University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum, Cooney is uniquely qualified to help Bulldog athletes flourish and reach their full potential.
Says Cooney, “I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Bulldog family as a lifting sports and strength and conditioning coach. I am thrilled to be able to lend my experience towards assisting Coach Myles, and to bring about our shared vision of elevating our lifting sports into the national championship conversation.”
Stated Myles, “I’m thrilled to welcome Desi to our staff. He brings over 10 years of professional experience in powerlifting and strength and conditioning, along with a proven track record of success leading one of the most successful powerlifting clubs in the country. His coaching ability, experience and knowledge will be a tremendous asset to our program. I also want to thank Chevy for everything he has done for our program. He has played a huge role in its growth and success, and I’m grateful for all of his hard work, dedication and contributions.”
Prior to joining the Bulldogs, Cooney served as head coach of Team Outlier, an organization he founded in Lincoln, Neb. Cooney began his coaching career in 2016 and has worked with youth, collegiate and professional athletes in various sports, including powerlifting. Athletes coached by Cooney have gone on to win national championships and to compete at the international level.
As owner and head coach of Team Outlier, Cooney led his teams to five Nebraska team state championships, two Midwest regional championships and two men’s team championships (USAPL Raw National Championships). He also oversaw four individual national champions. Simultaneously, he managed a staff of five assistant coaches and ran day-to-day business operations. Cooney also served as Head Powerlifting Coach for University of Nebraska Barbell and coached four All-Americans and a national champion. His teams earned a third-place women’s finish (2020) and a fourth-place men’s finish (2021).
From 2016 through 2019, Cooney lent his expertise to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as Strength and Conditioning Coach Intern. As part of his role, Cooney assisted in strength and conditioning for the sports of football, basketball, track and field, wrestling, soccer, tennis, golf, cheer and dance. While with the Cornhuskers, Cooney worked as a graduate teaching assistant in the nutrition department, working as a teacher and research and data assistant.
Cooney earned his Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Sciences and his Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Services from UNL. He is licensed as a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, USA Weightlifting Certified Sports Performance Coach, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Levels 1 and 2 and Pre-Script Certified Coach Levels 1 and 2. Athletically, Cooney has competed as a powerlifting since 2017.
Stated Director of Athletics Devin Smith, “We are overjoyed Coach Cooney has joined the Bulldog Nation. Desi will play an instrumental role in developing students into champions for Christ and for the sport of powerlifting. His impressive resume speaks for itself. He and Coach Myles will partner alongside our athletics department staff to mentor students in caring for their physical bodies as temple of the Holy Spirit, and how we care for them matters in all our vocations. I can’t wait to see the fruits of their labor."