Freddie Myles
Athletics
Hometown: Penngrove, Calif.
Alma Mater: University of California, Davis
Freddie Myles was introduced as the first head coach in the history of Concordia Men's and Women's Lifting Sports, which began athletic competition in 2022-23. Myles has also served the athletic department in the area of strength and conditioning and was elevated to the role of Director of Strength and Conditioning in June 2025.
In four seasons at the helm of the powerlifting and weightlifting programs, Myles has quickly guided the Bulldogs to national relevance. His programs have produced a combined three individual national titles: Evan Fukuhara (2024), Kaiden Mima (2025 and 2026) and Rylee Ladd (2025). Ladd continually reset her own American collegiate bench press record for her weight class. At 2025 national championship events, Concordia came away with team placements of fifth for women's powerlifting, 14th for men's powerlifting, fourth for men's weightlifting, fifth for co-ed weightlifting and sixth for women's weightlifting. The Bulldogs qualified a total of 30 athletes for the national championships between powerlifting and weightlifting. The success carried into 2026 as the Bulldogs placed top 10 in all categories for weightlifting - third in the co-ed breakdown, fifth for men and eighth for women - and in powerlifting - fifth for women and sixth for men. In an impressive feat, Taylor Hedke earned All-America honors in weightlifting and powerlifting.
Most recently, Myles has served as Assistant Strength Coach at NCAA Division II Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, Calif. Myles filled that role while operating his own gym, Myles Ahead Fitness, Inc., a training ground for elite powerlifters. Since opening the facility in January 2005, Myles has worked with 21 national champions in weightlifting and powerlifting, three American record holders, seven international competitors, one Pan American champion, four world champions and four national championship teams. Myles has also developed scholarship athletes in the sports of softball, soccer, track & field and weightlifting as part of his individualized strength and conditioning programs.
Myles is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and has earned USA Weightlifting Level 4 certification. During his career, Myles has served roles as president of the Pacific Weightlifting Association (2014-18) and USA Weightlifting Youth Committee member (2014-16) and managed city youth wrestling and track & field programs.
Myles graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Biology from UC Davis in 2002. He earned his Master of Science in Applied Exercise Science with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning from Concordia University, Chicago. Freddie and his wife Niki have three children, Desmond, 12, Annemarie, 9, and Gabrielle, 7.
National Champions Coached:
- Evan Fukuhara, WL (2024)
- Rylee Ladd, PL (2025)
- Kaiden Mima, WL (2025, 2026)
Team National Finishes:
Powerlifting
- 2026: W - 5th | M - 6th
- 2025: W - 5th | M - 18th
- 2024: W - 9th | M - 19th
Weightlifting
- 2026: Co-Ed - 3rd | M - 5th | W - 8th
- 2025: Co-Ed - 5th | M - 4th | W - 6th
Desmond Cooney
Athletics
Hometown: Lake Zurich, Ill.
Alma Mater: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Highly-regarded within his field, Desmond Cooney officially began his tenure as Assistant Lifting Sports Coach / Strength and Conditioning Coach at Concordia University, Nebraska in September 2026. Cooney assists Head Coach Freddie Myles.
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 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.