University of Memphis Athletics

Silverfield Rounds out Strength and Conditioning Staff
Jan 09, 2020 | Football
One promotion, one returnee and a newcomer welcome the Tigers back when the spring semester begins January 21.
The University of Memphis football team returns to classes on January 21 and when they do, head coach Ryan Silverfield made sure a full strength and conditioning staff is waiting for them. Under the guidance of Director of Athletic Performance Noah Franklin, the Tigers have announced one promotion and two additions to the 2020 staff. Andrew Tokarz has been promoted to a full-time spot, while Corey Smith returns to Memphis after four seasons at Missouri. Andrew Stone will round out the staff from the Carolina Panthers in the NFL.
COREY SMITH
Smith returns to Memphis after spending the past four seasons as an Associate Director of Athletic Performance at the University of Missouri. He left Memphis, where he was a member of the staff from 2013-15, to join the staff at Missouri in the spring of 2016.
Prior to his first stop in Memphis, Smith was a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at Illinois State from 2012-13, working primarily with football. He began his career as a volunteer student assistant with the Redbird strength and conditioning program in 2011.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Illinois State in 2012. He also completed a strength and conditioning internship with the University of Iowa football team in 2012. He earned his Master of Science in Health and Sport Science from Memphis in 2015.
He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as a Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa).
ANDREW STONE
Stone joins the Memphis strength and conditioning staff after spending the past season with the Carolina Panthers in the NFL as a strength and conditioning intern.
Stone took the position with the NFL team after spending five years as part of the program at Virginia Tech. He started at Virginia Tech as a Olympic sports and conditioning intern, creating training programs for wrestling, women's soccer, women's lacrosse, softball, baseball and sprinters on the men's and women's track and field squads. He also designed programs for the official cheerleading and dance teams and the Virginia Tech men's golf program.
He served in that role from 2015 to 2017, when he was named a graduate assistant in strength and conditioning for Olympic sports. After completing his master's degree in May of 2019, he moved to the Carolina Panthers internship.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree in human nutrition (2016) and a Masters of Arts in Instructional Technology (2019) both from Virginia Tech.
A native of Virginia Beach, he is also a certified strength and conditional specialist with the NSCA, a USA Weightlifting Level 1 coach and is a member of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA).
ANDREW TOKARZ
Andrew Tokarz has been elevated to a full-time assistant position in the Tigers' Athletic Performance department. Tokarz has been a graduate assistant with Memphis since January of 2019, working with the Tiger football and rifle programs.
A 2012 graduate of Worcester State, Tokarz was a four-year starter of the Lancer football team, playing defensive back. He served as a team captain in his senior season.
Following his college graduation, he interned with the strength and conditioning program at Portland State. He was hired by Portland State in 2013 and served as a coach there with football, as well as men's and women's tennis until leaving for the football strength and conditioning internship at UMass. He was on the staff as an intern and part time coach at UMass until 2014.
Tokarz then accepted a position at the University of Nevada in Reno and was there until 2016, serving as the strength and conditioning assistant coach for football, as well as men's and women's tennis and baseball and softball programs.
In 2016, Tokarz joined the staff at Rutgers University, working on the football staff for three seasons before coming to Memphis in January of 2019.
Tokarz holds his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences from Worcester State. He currently holds his RPR Coach certification and a USAW Level 1 Sports Performance and First Aid/CPR Certifications.
COREY SMITH
Smith returns to Memphis after spending the past four seasons as an Associate Director of Athletic Performance at the University of Missouri. He left Memphis, where he was a member of the staff from 2013-15, to join the staff at Missouri in the spring of 2016.
Prior to his first stop in Memphis, Smith was a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at Illinois State from 2012-13, working primarily with football. He began his career as a volunteer student assistant with the Redbird strength and conditioning program in 2011.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Illinois State in 2012. He also completed a strength and conditioning internship with the University of Iowa football team in 2012. He earned his Master of Science in Health and Sport Science from Memphis in 2015.
He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as a Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa).
ANDREW STONE
Stone joins the Memphis strength and conditioning staff after spending the past season with the Carolina Panthers in the NFL as a strength and conditioning intern.
Stone took the position with the NFL team after spending five years as part of the program at Virginia Tech. He started at Virginia Tech as a Olympic sports and conditioning intern, creating training programs for wrestling, women's soccer, women's lacrosse, softball, baseball and sprinters on the men's and women's track and field squads. He also designed programs for the official cheerleading and dance teams and the Virginia Tech men's golf program.
He served in that role from 2015 to 2017, when he was named a graduate assistant in strength and conditioning for Olympic sports. After completing his master's degree in May of 2019, he moved to the Carolina Panthers internship.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree in human nutrition (2016) and a Masters of Arts in Instructional Technology (2019) both from Virginia Tech.
A native of Virginia Beach, he is also a certified strength and conditional specialist with the NSCA, a USA Weightlifting Level 1 coach and is a member of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA).
ANDREW TOKARZ
Andrew Tokarz has been elevated to a full-time assistant position in the Tigers' Athletic Performance department. Tokarz has been a graduate assistant with Memphis since January of 2019, working with the Tiger football and rifle programs.
A 2012 graduate of Worcester State, Tokarz was a four-year starter of the Lancer football team, playing defensive back. He served as a team captain in his senior season.
Following his college graduation, he interned with the strength and conditioning program at Portland State. He was hired by Portland State in 2013 and served as a coach there with football, as well as men's and women's tennis until leaving for the football strength and conditioning internship at UMass. He was on the staff as an intern and part time coach at UMass until 2014.
Tokarz then accepted a position at the University of Nevada in Reno and was there until 2016, serving as the strength and conditioning assistant coach for football, as well as men's and women's tennis and baseball and softball programs.
In 2016, Tokarz joined the staff at Rutgers University, working on the football staff for three seasons before coming to Memphis in January of 2019.
Tokarz holds his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences from Worcester State. He currently holds his RPR Coach certification and a USAW Level 1 Sports Performance and First Aid/CPR Certifications.
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