Steve Orris
Nova Southeastern University Director of Sports Performance Steve Orris was named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (MSSC) on Thursday night, the highest honor bestowed by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa).
Orris was presented with the blue MSCC Jacket by Oklahoma State University Director of Strength and Conditioning Rob Glass. Thirty-one collegiate strength and conditioning coaches received this prestigious honor at the CSCCa’s National Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I am very proud to receive the Master of Strength and Conditioning certification as it is the highest honor in my field,” said Orris. “It was made extra special when the award was presented to me by Rob Glass who gave me my first job in 2004. I have been blessed to make a career out of something I would do for free.”
In his position, Orris oversees the strength and conditioning, sports nutrition and body composition analysis programs for 17 intercollegiate athletic teams and more than 375 student-athletes at NSU. Throughout his career, he has designed programs that have helped produce numerous Conference Players of the Year, National Championship appearances and winners and several All-Americans.
“Coach Orris deserves this recognition as he and his work in the strength and conditioning circles are well respected by his peers both locally and nationally, said director of athletics Mike Mominey. “He represents our athletic department and our university as a great ambassador and certainly lives within our student-centered mission.”
Prior to coming to NSU, Orris began his career at the University of Florida where he worked as an assistant strength and conditioning coach. During his time at UF, he worked with the baseball, softball, women’s basketball and football teams. He also oversaw the direction of the internship program as well as the coaches’ clinics and youth camps. He also completed internships with the Miami Dolphins and Houston Astros.
In order to receive the MSCC certification and corresponding title of distinction, an individual must first meet the following criteria:
- Hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree
- Be a currently practicing, full-time strength and conditioning coach on the collegiate or professional level
- Hold current membership in the CSCCa
- Hold the CSCCa Certification – SCCC (Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified)
- Have a minimum of 12 years of experience as a full-time strength and conditioning coach on the collegiate and/or professional level
With this honor, Orris will join the existing 156 Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches, bringing the total number of MSCCs to 187.