Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Bryce Fairchild
Farrel earns Master Strength and Conditioning honor
5/14/2026 7:39:00 PM | Sports Performance
GCU assistant athletic director for health and performance to receive CSCCa’s highest honor
Grand Canyon assistant athletic director for health and performance Zach Farrel was recognized with the title of Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association at its annual national conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
Farrel received the honor at the CSCCa's Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches Dinner and Ceremony, held during the organization's May 4-6 national conference. The distinction is the highest honor in the strength and conditioning coaching profession and has been awarded to only 380 individuals.
The honor recognizes professionalism, knowledge, experience, expertise and longevity in the field. To qualify, a strength and conditioning coach must be a currently practicing, full-time coach of a collegiate or professional athletic team, hold the CSCCa's SCCC certification and have at least 12 years of full-time experience in the profession.
Farrel joined GCU in April 2021 after spending 13 years in the sports performance department at his alma mater Louisville. He currently works directly with the GCU women's basketball program while helping lead the department's health and performance efforts. Farrel has also taken a leadership role as the liason between GCU's campus ministries and the athletic department.
Farrel began his strength and conditioning career as a graduate assistant at Louisville after graduating from the school in 2009. During his time with the Cardinals, he advanced from graduate assistant to performance coach, senior performance coach and assistant director of sports performance.
In his role at GCU, Farrel has helped oversee sports performance programming for student-athletes and has managed and advised sports performance staff as part of the department's efforts to support the Lopes' championship goals.
In 2019, Farrel received the Gatorade Young Achievers in Strength and Conditioning award. He also has been featured as a speaker in the classroom at Louisville, at the American Baseball Coaches Association National Conference and at the Proforce Baseball Summit.
The CSCCa commended Farrel as "a leader in his field" who has "dedicated his life and career to the field of collegiate strength and conditioning."
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Farrel received the honor at the CSCCa's Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches Dinner and Ceremony, held during the organization's May 4-6 national conference. The distinction is the highest honor in the strength and conditioning coaching profession and has been awarded to only 380 individuals.
The honor recognizes professionalism, knowledge, experience, expertise and longevity in the field. To qualify, a strength and conditioning coach must be a currently practicing, full-time coach of a collegiate or professional athletic team, hold the CSCCa's SCCC certification and have at least 12 years of full-time experience in the profession.
Farrel joined GCU in April 2021 after spending 13 years in the sports performance department at his alma mater Louisville. He currently works directly with the GCU women's basketball program while helping lead the department's health and performance efforts. Farrel has also taken a leadership role as the liason between GCU's campus ministries and the athletic department.
Farrel began his strength and conditioning career as a graduate assistant at Louisville after graduating from the school in 2009. During his time with the Cardinals, he advanced from graduate assistant to performance coach, senior performance coach and assistant director of sports performance.
In his role at GCU, Farrel has helped oversee sports performance programming for student-athletes and has managed and advised sports performance staff as part of the department's efforts to support the Lopes' championship goals.
In 2019, Farrel received the Gatorade Young Achievers in Strength and Conditioning award. He also has been featured as a speaker in the classroom at Louisville, at the American Baseball Coaches Association National Conference and at the Proforce Baseball Summit.
The CSCCa commended Farrel as "a leader in his field" who has "dedicated his life and career to the field of collegiate strength and conditioning."
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