JACKSONVILLE - Scott Austin has been named Jacksonville State's first full-time strength and conditioning coach, according to Athletic Director .

"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to work with the athletes at Jacksonville State," Austin said. "I'm also looking forward to the transition the University is making to the OVC."

Austin, 37, has been the strength and condition coach at Duquesne since October 1998.

"We're very excited to hire someone with Scott's experience and knowledge as our first strength and condition coach," said Seitz. "He knows the type of athletes we need to develop to be able to compete on the national level."

Austin is a 1988 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, where he served as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach in 1998, before becoming head strength and conditioning coach at Duquesne.

He designed and implemented the year-round strength and conditioning program for the athletes at Duquesne University for the past four years, which consists of 21 varsity sports that competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

"The vision of the University is tremendous," Austin said. "The commitment the University has made to developing the athletes is outstanding. There really shouldn't be any reason JSU won't compete in the A-Sun and SFL this year and the OVC next year."