Bio

Brian Ciolek is entering his 12th year as the Strength and Conditioning coach at Avila University. In 2019, he also took on the added responsibilities of Assistant Athletic Director. Ciolek is the first Strength and Conditioning coach in the history of Avila Athletics. 

Before coming to Avila, Ciolek spent the previous five years as the Wellness, Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for Park University. During his time at Park, he oversaw the strength and conditioning programs for the 2012 men’s volleyball national championship team, 2013 runners-up team, a softball national tournament qualifier and two men’s basketball national tournament qualifiers.  

He obtained his Masters of Science in Exercise Science with an emphasis in performance enhancement and injury prevention from PennWest University-California in 2008. He also attended the University of Central Missouri where he graduated with a BS in Exercise Science with an emphasis in athletic training and 1,200 hours of experience with the university’s football, basketball and baseball teams.

Ciolek is a Strength and Conditioning Coach-Certified through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association by completing his practicum with the Mid-America Nazarene University football team and was added the distinction of Master Strength and Conditioning Coach in 2022 by the CSCCa.

He is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction, Certified Performance & Sports Scientist with Distinction, Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator with Distinction, and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach with Distinction. 

In addition, he has certifications of Performance Enhancement Specialist, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Golf Fitness Specialist, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, & Mixed Martial Arts Conditioning Specialist by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and is Functional Movement Screen certified.

Ciolek also has coaching certifications from USA Weightlifting (Sports Performance Coach), USA Track and Field (Level 1), US Soccer (D License), and United Soccer Coaches (Advanced Regional Diploma).

He is an active member in the NSCA as an Exam Prep Live instructor and presenter at the NSCA National Conference in 2025 as well as both the Kansas and Missouri state strength and conditioning conferences . He is also an approved mentor for the SCCC certification through the CSCCa.

He lives in Lee’s Summit, Mo., with his wife Angie and daughters Ellie and Meeka. He enjoys soccer, mountain biking, kayaking, adventure racing and is a multiple marathon/ultra-marathon finisher.