David Edwards was hired in August 2015 to serve as the head coach for the Bearcats’ powerlifting programs. Edwards takes over for Andrew Rauen, who resigned after guiding McKendree through its inaugural season in 2014-15.
Edwards comes to McKendree after spending the last two years as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Limestone College, an NCAA Division II institution located in Gaffney, S.C. In addition to his coaching experience, Edwards is a record-setting powerlifter and has been competitive in USA Powerlifting since 2011.
While at Limestone, Edwards was responsible for developing and implementing the workout and conditioning programs for several sports, including baseball, softball, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s swimming, wrestling and field hockey. Edwards was also instrumental in creating summer conditioning programs for the student-athletes at Limestone. He initially joined the Limestone staff as an intern in 2011 before serving in a part-time role. He was elevated to the full-time position of assistant strength and conditioning coach in March 2013.
As a student-athlete at James Madison, Edwards was a pitcher for the Dukes’ baseball program, posting a career record of 5-1 over two seasons. Along with his accomplishments on the mound, Edwards was a JMU Athletic Director Scholar-Athlete as a senior. He earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from James Madison in 2011.
In the world of competitive powerlifting, Edwards quickly made his mark on the sport with a pair of record-setting efforts in the state of South Carolina. Competing at 165 pounds, he posted new state marks in the squat and dead lift during the South Carolina State Powerlifting Meet in December 2012. Edwards also placed second overall at the Battle of the Border in Fort Mill, S.C., just three months later in March 2013.
