Bio

John Hammersmith became the school's first-ever full-time Strength & Conditioning Coach prior to the 2017-18 season. This year marks his fourth season working with the Bulldogs in 2020-21.

Hammersmith joined the FSU program and coordinates strength and conditioning duties for 15 of the school's 17 varsity programs under Coordinator of Athletic Performance Dave Cencer's direction on a full-time basis. He played collegiate football in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) at the University of Findlay and spent two years as the Assistant Strength & Conditioning coach at the University of Central Missouri following two years in a similar role at NCAA Division I Bowling Green State. Most recently, he had served since May 2017 as a professional strength and conditioning intern with the University of Notre Dame football program.

Hammersmith brought more than six years of professional experience in strength and conditioning, athletic coaching and technique development to FSU. A 2013 Findlay graduate, Hammersmith served since 2015 at Central Missouri in a graduate assistant role where he employed a wide range of strength and conditioning techniques to help support the plan and execution of athletic performance for 10 varsity sports. He implemented training programs, assisted in daily maintenance and duties of the varsity weight room and supported the introduction and technique of Olympic-style lifting along with other duties.

Prior to his stint at Central Missouri, Hammersmith held an internship role as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Bowling Green State. In that position, he implemented and oversaw training programs for women's tennis, women's track, women's swimming, women's golf, men's golf, softball, men's soccer, baseball and rugby. He also assisted with the Falcons' football squad during his tenure.

Hammersmith started his career as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach at Tinora High School in Defiance, Ohio, in 2011. He also was the volunteer assistant strength and conditioning coach at Findlay in 2012-13 prior to taking the Bowling Green State position. While at Findlay, Hammersmith worked with 24 different programs and instructed student-athletes in areas such as agility, quickness and speed development in addition to lifting techniques and training programs.

A three-year letterwinner and Academic All-GLIAC football honoree at Findlay, Hammersmith also spent time working in the athletic performance area at the University of Findlay's recreational center along with the Performance Zone in Findlay. He holds a bachelor's degree in health sciences with an emphasis in strength and conditioning along with a master's degree in kinesiology.

Hammersmith was chosen following an extensive search process by an eight-member search committee.