Photo by Rosemary Geib '23. Mount Holyoke's new assistant director of recreation and head strength and conditioning coach Jay Mendoza stands outside of the Mount Holyoke College Kendall Sports and Dance Complex.
By Emily Tarinelli ’25
Sports Editor
Mount Holyoke College Athletics hired Jay Mendoza in March to join the Lyon pride as the College’s first assistant director of recreation and head strength and conditioning coach.
“I’m pleased to welcome [Mendoza] to Lyons Nation in this new position at the College,” Interim Director of Athletics Erica Lemm said in a press release. “It is evident that [Mendoza] brings the passion, expertise and student-centered approach necessary to develop our sports performance program from the ground up. His experience and focus on the entire student experience including student well-being and development will have a lasting impact on the future of our students and programs.”
“Mendoza will design and implement strength training and conditioning programs for [the] 13 varsity athletics programs and support the management of recreational offerings, including coordination and scheduling of the Lyons Den, the varsity strength and conditioning space, Fitness Center and drop-in class programming,” the press release stated.
Mendoza said that his path to becoming a strength and conditioning coach was clear. Sports were always a part of his life, from playing baseball and basketball in his childhood years to participating on his high school’s wrestling team.
“I think I was a pretty good athlete … If I had more mentors, if I had a strength coach, I probably could have been a lot better,” Mendoza said. He added that his desire to assist other athletes in achieving their fullest potential inspired him to pursue a career in coaching.
Originally from Philadelphia, Mendoza attended Temple University, where he studied kinesiology and exercise science. From there, he interned at various strength training programs in both collegiate and high school settings as he worked to obtain his master’s degree in sports management and athletic administration from Southern New Hampshire University. Afterwards, he became an assistant strength coach at Trinity College, which led him to a position as head strength coach at Eastern Connecticut State University. After a year at ECSU, he worked for three years as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Brandeis University before making his way to South Hadley.
Mendoza spoke about why he was drawn to Mount Holyoke, citing the College’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Having come from Brandeis, [a university with] a very strong sense of DEI work … [those values] seemed apparent at Mount Holyoke. And I want to continue to work at schools that support those ideals and those values of community, of active involvement and impact and anti-racism,” Mendoza said. “Those things are super important to me.”
He discussed his excitement for the position. “I think being able to be the … first sports performance coach, [the] first assistant director of recreation, there’s a lot of impact that can be made,” he said. “So that was super, super enticing for me to make sure that the program starts off on the right foot.”
Since coming into the position, Mendoza has implemented several new services into Mount Holyoke’s strength and conditioning program — most notably, the open-hour training sessions now available for varsity athletes each week. Mendoza has already begun working with several varsity teams, including the Soccer and Lacrosse.
“I have loved having [Mendoza] on campus,” lacrosse player Emma Bowler ’22 said. “He’s a very supportive coach who makes lifting with other athletes fun and engaging. Plus, the workouts are short and effective, which is super helpful for student-athletes with busy schedules.”
“Working with [Mendoza] in the Lyons Den has been amazing,” Bowler’s teammate Hannah Bisson ’24 said. “His workouts are very energizing, and I love his positive attitude. I always walk out of a workout in such a great mood. The lacrosse team is so grateful to have [Mendoza] here at Mount Holyoke.”
“Training with [Mendoza] has been amazing. He is very understanding and motivating when we work out. His workouts are unique and really challenge me,” Lacrosse’s Amrit Khinda ’25 added.
Multi-sport athletes have also expressed their enthusiasm for working with Mendoza.
“I have really enjoyed working out with [Mendoza], both during team lifts and during open gym. His lifts are catered to each sport, and he really gets to know each athlete and what they need to get stronger. I am so happy that there is a new and energizing presence in the varsity weight room,” lacrosse and field hockey athlete Caroline Thompson ’24 said. “I am so excited to continue to work with [Mendoza] throughout my time both on the field hockey and lacrosse teams here at Mount Holyoke. I feel like this is a great step for Mount Holyoke Athletics as a whole.”
Caroline Sullivan ’23, a member of the lacrosse and equestrian teams, also spoke highly of Mendoza’s commitment to giving athletes sport-specific workouts.
“[He] came down to the barn to watch us ride so that he [could] see what muscles we use … [That way], he [could] tailor a workout to our team,” Sullivan said.
“I think everyone’s been great. I think [the athletes] were really excited to have someone in this role,” Mendoza said. “Everyone’s been super responsive [and has] good energy in the weight room, and I think [they are] just really open minded to how strength and conditioning can be for them. So, I’ve had a really positive experience.”
Mendoza shared his favorite part about being a strength and conditioning coach without hesitation.
“I think it’s just interacting with athletes,” he said. “The best part of my day is … getting to know everyone and really seeing different perspectives [and] just engaging with student-athletes.”
“I’m just really excited to be part of the Mount Holyoke community,” Mendoza continued. “I think there’s a great foundation to build upon, and … [I’m] really excited for what the future holds with the strength and conditioning program.”