GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Trent Caldwell has been named Furman's new associate director of sports performance by Joe Novotasky, the program's director, it has been announced.

For Caldwell, it marks a return to a Paladin organization he served as assistant director of strength training and conditioning from 2015-19.  

He most recently served as director of strength training and conditioning at Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) University for seven years (2020-26), overseeing a 23-sport NCAA Division II program, including a highly successful football program that posted a 61-18 record and won two South Atlantic Conference championships and made four NCAA playoff appearances during his tenure.

His first run at Furman saw him coordinate strength training and conditioning efforts for multiple sports, including men's & women's basketball, baseball, men's lacrosse, volleyball, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's golf, and women's golf.  He played key role in a number of Southern Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as player of the year honors recorded by sports under his charge.  He also assisted with efforts with the Paladin football program that advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs in 2017 and claimed the 2018 SoCon title.

In addition to his work at Furman and Lenoir-Rhyne, Caldwell has made profession stops at Troy (2014-15), Tennessee (2013-14), Notre Dame (2012), UNC Pembroke (2011-12), and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (2010-11).

He is Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA), as is also a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He has USA Weightlifting Level 1 Sport Performance Coach Certification and holds an Advanced Olympic Lifting Certification (Totten Training Systems).

Caldwell graduated from UNC Pembroke in May of 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in health & physical education. He was a member of Pembroke's inaugural football team in 2007 and was a three-year letterwinner.