Meet Us

Meet the Strength & Performance Coaching Certificate Faculty & Staff

The Strength & Performance Coaching Certificate faculty is comprised of experienced professionals who hold advanced degrees in Exercise & Sport Science (Ph.D. and Masters), multiple certifications (CSCS, USA-W, TSAC-F, etc.), and who have hundreds of hours coaching clients of all backgrounds.

Meet Our Faculty

Dr. Nick Dinan

Dr. Nick Dinan is the current Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Midland University and designer of the Strength and Performance Coaching Certificate. Nick is passionate about advancing emerging sport performance evidence into practical applications within the field of coaching and performance. He has extensive experience coaching athletes, general health clients, and clinical populations. Nick has spent the last 7 years teaching in Higher Education as an Assistant Professor of Exercise Science at Hastings College (2016-2021) and Associate Professor of Health Science at Midland University (2021-2023). Nick’s research interests relate to performance nutrition (Creatine timing) and muscle/ environmental physiology (Response of Interleukin-6 to hot, cold, and temperate environments). Over the course of his career, Nick has developed an Exercise Science Lab, Strength and Performance Center, and most recently, the Warrior Health and Performance Lab at Midland University. Nick earned his Ph.D. in Health Science with an emphasis in Human and Sport Performance from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. He also holds a Master’s of Science in Exercise Physiology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a B.S. in Exercise Science from Nebraska Wesleyan University where he also played collegiate basketball.

Dr. Terry Laursen

Dr. Terry Laursen is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician and the owner/DC at Laursen Chiropractic and Performance. His practice is aimed at maximizing performance, improving mobility, and increasing overall quality of life for athletes and non-athletes as well. Terry has a passion for helping people move and feel better. He received his doctorate in chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. Terry also obtained a master’s degree in exercise science and was a graduate teaching assistant in the exercise physiology lab at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Dr. Laursen is certified in ART (Active Release Techniques) and SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment) as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He is also certified through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association as an animal chiropractor. A large part of Dr. Laursen’s practice revolves around working on performance horses and their riders. His undergrad degree also came from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and where he obtained a B.S. in biotechnology with a minor in chemistry. Terry was part of UNO’s wrestling team in college and then played rugby at a semi-professional level for roughly 10 years. He played with the Greater Omaha Area Touring Side (GOATS) and then played for Palmer’s men’s team while attending chiropractic school.

Dr. Megan Cottet

Dr. Megan Cottet is currently an Assistant Professor of Health and Movement Sciences at Missouri Baptist University (MBU). In addition to her full-time teaching position, Megan is the co-founder and current Director of the Athletic Performance program at MBU, overseeing a team of 5 strength and conditioning coaches and programming for 22 athletic teams. She continues to dedicate approximately 10 hours per week to personal training clients. Dr. Cottet is the current clinic coordinator for the NSCA MO State Clinic, with her upcoming directorship term beginning in 2025. Dr. Cottet holds certifications as an NSCA-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, USAW Level 1 and Level 1 & 2 Body Reading through Anatomy Trains. Her primary research interests are exploring student-athlete satisfaction with their strength and conditioning coach and nutritional interventions to attenuate delayed onset muscle soreness.

Along with the physical aspect of training, Dr. Cottet educates student-athletes on nutritional interventions for performance, recovery strategies, overall health, and body composition changes. She earned her Ph.D. in Human and Sports Performance from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. She also obtained her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in human performance and exercise science from Lindenwood University.

Dr. Cottet’s multifaceted background, blending academics with practical experience, underscores her commitment to advancing sports nutrition and athletic performance while equipping coaches and athletes with the knowledge and tools necessary to excel in their performance-related goals.