Dave Scholz - Football Coach - Texas Tech Red Raiders

Dave Scholz

Title:
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach

Dave Scholz enters his third season as Texas Tech’s head strength and conditioning coach, a vital position under head coach Matt Wells in his goal to turn the Red Raiders into a complete “developmental program.”

Scholz was among Wells’ first hires after accepting the head coaching position at Texas Tech, bringing with him his strength and conditioning coach from all six seasons at Utah State. In his position, Scholz oversees the entire strength and conditioning and nutrition program for the Red Raiders, while also working closely with the athletic training staff.

Scholz’ impact has been quickly felt during his time at Texas Tech as he has been credited with the physical transformations in eventual NFL Draft selections such as Jordyn Brooks, Broderick Washington Jr., and Zech McPhearson. Scholz and his staff were instrumental in the development of all three draft picks, using a strength program that combines the use of analytics with a dedication to nutrition.

Brooks, in particular, benefited from Scholz’ arrival as he transformed his physique in only a year to rise into a first-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2020. Brooks, a second team All-American as a senior in 2019, is one of three Red Raider defensive players all-time to be picked in the first round, joining the likes of College Football Hall of Famer Gabe Rivra in 1983 and Ted Watts in 1981.

Scholz spent the majority of his career at Utah State, beginning as a graduate assistant from 2006-08 and then as an assistant strength and conditioning coach from 2008-10. He was hired by Wells as the Aggies’ head football strength and conditioning coach prior to the 2013 season.

In his first stint with the Aggies, Scholz assisted with all matters of the football program and served as the head of sports nutrition. He also was the lead strength and conditioning coach for both the softball and volleyball programs.

As a graduate assistant, Scholz tutored under current Minnesota Vikings head strength and conditioning coach Mark Uyeyama, who served in a similar capacity at Utah State from 2004-07. Uyeyama later hired Scholz as a strength and conditioning intern with the San Francisco 49ers in 2011.

Scholz was promoted to a strength, nutrition and conditioning assistant with the 49ers in 2012 where he was responsible for the programming of quarterbacks and kickers as well as all the nutritional aspects of the organization, including meal planning.

Scholz has earned his CSCS Certification from the NSCA, Precision Nutrition Certification, ISSA Sports Nutrition Certification, BioSignature Modulation, PICP Levels I & II Certification, Metabolic Analytics Certification, Kinetic Chain Enhancement Upper and Lower Body Certification, and Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist Certification (FRCms).

Scholz, who played football at Wisconsin-Eau Claire from 2002-03, was a national-level powerlifter at the 275-power class. He earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise fitness from Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2004 and went on to obtain his master’s degree from Utah State in health, physical education and recreation in 2008.

Scholz is married to the former Kara Krupski.