FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann has selected Michael Harris as Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Performance. Harris most recently served as Director of Strength and Conditioning at Yale University.
 
Harris had been at Yale since the fall of 2013 and was elevated to the position of Director of Strength and Conditioning in 2016. He worked directly with 10 of the Bulldogs' varsity programs – including men's and women's basketball – while overseeing the weight room and helping to develop strength, conditioning and nutrition programs for student-athletes from all 35 Yale teams.
 
"We are very excited about the addition of Michael Harris to our staff at this critical juncture in the overall progression of our athletics program," said Schlickmann. "Our commitment to the holistic development and well-being of our student-athletes is a 24/7 responsibility. Coach Harris has a strong belief in that premise and brings a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience that will help prepare our student-athletes to train, compete and perform at their best physically and mentally. His positive energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the development of all our sports will serve him well in a role that is imperative to our competitive success."
 
Previously, Harris worked in St. Louis Cardinals organization with both the Batavia Muckdogs (Short Season Class A) and the GCL Cardinals (Rookie League). He also spent time in the National Football League ranks with the New York Giants, Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills. His tenure in Chicago included the Bears' 2010 NFC North Championship and appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
 
Harris is a 2009 graduate of Springfield College with a B.S. in Applied Exercise Science, and he earned an M.S. in Exercise Science and Sports Studies from Springfield in 2013. Harris played on the offensive and defensive lines for the Pride football team as an undergraduate and was a thrower on the track and field team. He served as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach as a graduate student at Springfield.
 
"I am honored and humbled to be given the responsibility of leading our strength and conditioning program at Fairfield," Harris said. "I want to thank Paul Schlickmann for this opportunity, as well as the administrators and coaches who sacrificed their time to be a part of the hiring process. Paul's vision and ability to build a championship culture made joining the Stags an easy decision."
 
Harris is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association and USA Weightlifting. He holds CSCS, RSCC, FMS level-1, USAW level-1 and Precision Nutrition level-1 certifications and is also CPR and AED certified.
 
He resides in New Haven with his wife, Nicole.