GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman director of sports performance Joe Novotasky announced today the addition of Altman Biggs and Victoria Ortiz as assistant directors on the Paladin staff.

A native of Natchez, Miss., Biggs comes to Furman from Delta State, where he has served as the head strength and conditioning coach since June 2024.  Prior to his time at Delta State, he worked as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Alcorn State.  An Eagle Scout, Biggs was a strength and conditioning intern with the men's and women's basketball teams and the football team at Mississippi State, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 2021 and a master's degree in 2023. 

"I am excited to have Altman join us," said Novotasky.  "He brings great energy and knowledge to our department, I am excited about what he has already done with our athletes in just a short time of being on campus!"

Ortiz, who hails from Mobile, Ala., recently completed a strength and conditioning fellowship at Virginia Tech, where she focused on training various Hokies' Olympic sport programs.  She also has previous experience in strength and conditioning at Mississippi State.  A former all-conference softball player at South Alabama, Ortiz was a student research intern in the health and kinesiology department and was the Jaguars' NCAA Woman of the Year nominee in 2023.  She earned a bachelor's degree in 2022 and a master's degree in 2023, both from South Alabama. 

"Victoria is such an amazing and bright young strength coach," said Novotasky.  "She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help our athletes become their best version of themselves, and we are fortunate to have her on our staff."