University of Minnesota Athletics
Staff Directory
Shane Aylward
- Title:
- Assistant Director of Athletic Performance
- Email:
Shane Aylward joined the University of Minnesota athletic performance staff in March 2026 as an Assistant Director of Athletic Performance.
Aylward came to Minnesota from Bowling Green, where he served as an Assistant Football Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Prior to his time at Bowling Green, he was a Strength and Conditioning Intern at LSU from January 2025 to January 2026. While with the Tigers, he provided coaching and instruction for compound exercises, including the squat, deadlift, bench press, and Olympic lifts, while ensuring proper form and appropriate progression.
He also collaborated with the return-to-play coordinator, sports science, and athletic training staff to design and implement modified strength programs tailored to individual athlete injury histories and sport-specific demands.
Aylward assisted in the implementation of Catapult GPS, ForceDecks, NordBord, SmartSpeed gates and EliteForm systems during training sessions and practices.
He previously served as a Strength and Conditioning Intern at Minnesota from January 2023 to April 2023. During that time, he supervised and assisted in organizing strength and conditioning programs for the football team and tracked and monitored critical data throughout workouts and spring practices.
He also helped coordinate the daily setup and breakdown of weight room equipment, stations, and technology, including equipment sanitization, organization, and training documentation to ensure efficient transitions between groups.
Aylward earned his undergraduate degree in exercise science from Endicott College in 2024 and his master’s degree in sport leadership from Endicott in 2025.
Aylward played wide receiver at Endicott from 2020 to 2025, finishing his career with 180 receptions for 2,467 yards and 21 touchdowns in 45 games.
A native of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, he is a graduate of Tewksbury High School.
He holds a certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
Aylward came to Minnesota from Bowling Green, where he served as an Assistant Football Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Prior to his time at Bowling Green, he was a Strength and Conditioning Intern at LSU from January 2025 to January 2026. While with the Tigers, he provided coaching and instruction for compound exercises, including the squat, deadlift, bench press, and Olympic lifts, while ensuring proper form and appropriate progression.
He also collaborated with the return-to-play coordinator, sports science, and athletic training staff to design and implement modified strength programs tailored to individual athlete injury histories and sport-specific demands.
Aylward assisted in the implementation of Catapult GPS, ForceDecks, NordBord, SmartSpeed gates and EliteForm systems during training sessions and practices.
He previously served as a Strength and Conditioning Intern at Minnesota from January 2023 to April 2023. During that time, he supervised and assisted in organizing strength and conditioning programs for the football team and tracked and monitored critical data throughout workouts and spring practices.
He also helped coordinate the daily setup and breakdown of weight room equipment, stations, and technology, including equipment sanitization, organization, and training documentation to ensure efficient transitions between groups.
Aylward earned his undergraduate degree in exercise science from Endicott College in 2024 and his master’s degree in sport leadership from Endicott in 2025.
Aylward played wide receiver at Endicott from 2020 to 2025, finishing his career with 180 receptions for 2,467 yards and 21 touchdowns in 45 games.
A native of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, he is a graduate of Tewksbury High School.
He holds a certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
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