AJ Whitehead is associate director of strength and conditioning, working with Purdue’s softball and men’s and women’s tennis teams. She also oversees daily operations in Mollenkopf, equipment and clothing budgets, while assisting with various administrative projects within the department.
Prior to Purdue, Whitehead was at UMASS Lowell for four seasons as the head sports performance coach for the River Hawks, working primarily with the women’s basketball, softball, women’s lacrosse and men’s soccer programs. She served as the head strength and conditioning coach for the women’s U16, U18, U20 and Senior B National Teams of the Turkish Basketball Federations as well as professional clubs for two years in Turkey.
Whitehead is a Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA), a Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA), and a Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified Coach. She also has her CES (Corrective Exercise Specialist) certification through NASM.
Whitehead earned her bachelor’s degree in sports studies from Bethel College in 2001 and attainted her master's in exercise science and health promotion from California University of Pennsylvania in 2017.
Prior to Purdue, Whitehead was at UMASS Lowell for four seasons as the head sports performance coach for the River Hawks, working primarily with the women’s basketball, softball, women’s lacrosse and men’s soccer programs. She served as the head strength and conditioning coach for the women’s U16, U18, U20 and Senior B National Teams of the Turkish Basketball Federations as well as professional clubs for two years in Turkey.
Whitehead is a Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA), a Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA), and a Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified Coach. She also has her CES (Corrective Exercise Specialist) certification through NASM.
Whitehead earned her bachelor’s degree in sports studies from Bethel College in 2001 and attainted her master's in exercise science and health promotion from California University of Pennsylvania in 2017.