Colorado College Athletics

Derek Savage is a highly accomplished strength and conditioning professional with extensive experience developing athletes across NCAA Division I, II, and III programs, elite hockey organizations and national governing bodies. He currently serves as the director of strength & conditioning at Colorado College, where he leads the sports performance department, oversees all staffing and operations, and drives the institution’s sports science initiatives.
 
In this role, he provides primary performance coaching for the Tigers’ Division I hockey and women’s soccer programs, as well as the Division III Track & Field programs while managing data-driven approaches to athlete monitoring and long-term development.
 
Prior to his current position, he served as Colorado College’s assistant director of strength & conditioning, where he designed performance programs for five NCAA teams, managed the fueling station for student-athlete nutrition, and directed the Sports Performance Internship Program. He also spent two years as an assistant strength & conditioning coach at CC, supporting multiple sports, leading testing initiatives, and collaborating closely with sport coaches to elevate department-wide training standards.
 
Beyond the collegiate setting, Derek brings significant experience coaching athletes in professional and elite development environments. At 365 Performance, he served as associate director of sports performance, overseeing weight room operations, staffing, and sports science processes while coaching athletes competing in the AHL, ECHL, NCAA Division I & III, Junior Hockey, Colorado Rampage AAA, and Team USA Figure Skating pipelines. His early work at 365 included coaching hockey and figure skating athletes at youth, junior, collegiate, and elite levels, refining his skill set in individualized program design and on-ice performance integration.
 
Derek began his coaching career with roles at UCCS, Cheyenne Mountain High School, and Fox Valley Fitness, gaining experience across NCAA Division II athletics and high-performance youth and junior hockey organizations. While at UCCS, he guided measurable improvements across strength, power, and endurance metrics for multiple varsity teams, showcasing his commitment to evidence-based training and athlete progression.
 
He holds a master’s degree in sports medicine: strength & conditioning from UCCS and a bachelor’s in exercise & movement science from Missouri State University. His professional credentials include CSCS, RSCC, USAW Level 1, and CPR/First Aid/AED certification. His technical skill set includes extensive experience with FirstBeat, VALD force technologies, velocity-based training tools, timing systems, and TeamBuildr.
 
With a background spanning collegiate athletics, professional hockey players, elite figure skating, and long-term athletic development, Derek is recognized for his leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to building high-performing, holistic training environments that support both immediate success and sustained athletic growth.