Will Santi was named the first head men’s and women’s powerlifting coach in Cumberland University history in March 2026, bringing extensive experience in strength and conditioning, sports performance, and athlete development at both the collegiate and high school levels.
Santi also serves as an adjunct professor of exercise and sport science at Cumberland, where he teaches courses in strength and conditioning program design and advanced strength programming. His instruction integrates nutrition, movement, and field training principles, providing student-athletes with a comprehensive approach to performance development.
Prior to Cumberland, Santi was the Director of Sports Performance at Providence Christian Academy in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. There, he built the school’s performance program from the ground up, designing and implementing strength and conditioning plans for 14 sports while developing movement and speed training systems. His work emphasized a culture rooted in effort, intent, and intensity.
Santi also gained valuable experience as the Director of Sports Performance at Wil Power Sports Training in Nashville, where he worked with athletes ranging from youth to the professional level. His background includes training collegiate football players for the NFL Combine, working with professional athletes, and developing individualized performance and recovery plans.
Santi holds certifications from USA Weightlifting, USA Track & Field, and USA Powerlifting, and is affiliated with the American College of Sports Medicine and the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
He earned his Master of Science in Sport and Exercise Science from Cumberland University in 2024 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Exercise and Sport Science at Liberty University. Santi completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Rhode Island in 1998.
