Justin Cruz
Justin Cruz initially came to VCSU with athletics as his main focus. Now, Cruz, alongside his wife and daughter, found his passion for athletics taking him further into life post-graduation.
Hometown: Pueblo, C.O.
Graduation Year: 2026
Major: Strength and Conditioning & Sports Leadership Management, Minor in Athletic Coaching
What are you involved in on campus?
During my time at Valley City State University, I was involved in football and really enjoyed being part of the athletic community on campus. Being around teammates, coaches, and other athletes helped shape a lot of my college experience and gave me a lot of great relationships and memories.
What or who inspired you to pursue a degree in strength and conditioning?
My background in athletics has played a huge role in inspiring me to pursue strength and conditioning. Growing up around sports and competing myself made me really interested in training and performance, but honestly my injuries also played a big part in it. Going through recovery and learning more about how the body works gave me a whole different perspective on training, mobility, recovery, and injury prevention. A lot of the coaches and trainers I’ve worked with over the years also inspired me and made me realize this is something I could see myself doing long term.
How do you balance athletics and your coursework?
Balancing athletics and school definitely taught me a lot about discipline and time management. There were days where things got stressful, but being an athlete helped me learn how to stay organized and keep pushing through even when things got busy. I’ve also balanced school while being a dad, which has honestly helped me grow up a lot and stay motivated to keep working toward my goals.
Have you been able to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to your own training? If yes, how?
Definitely. I think one of the coolest parts about this degree is being able to actually use what you learn on yourself. I’ve learned a lot about recovery, mobility, injury prevention, different training styles, and even why certain exercises work better for performance. It’s helped me train smarter and understand my body a lot more instead of just going through workouts without really knowing why.
Why did you choose VCSU?
I originally chose Valley City State University because of athletics first and foremost, but once I got here, I really liked the environment and the people around campus. The coaches, professors, and community made it feel like a place where I could grow both personally and professionally.
What type of athletes or level do you hope to work with and how has your athletic background helped prepare you for this?
I’ve actually become really interested in pursuing strength and conditioning within the military. I like the idea of helping people become stronger both physically and mentally while preparing them for demanding situations and careers. My athletic background has helped prepare me for that because I understand the discipline, work ethic, and mental toughness it takes to perform at a high level. Going through injuries and setbacks has also helped me understand how important proper training and recovery really are.
What’s one accomplishment – athletic or academic – you’re really proud of?Honestly, one thing I’m really proud of is just making it to graduation. There was a time where I honestly didn’t even think college was something I’d accomplish, so being able to graduate while balancing athletics, injuries, life, and being a dad means a lot to me.
What advice do you have for students wanting to pursue a degree in strength and conditioning?
My advice would be to stay open to learning and take advantage of the people around you. There are a lot of great coaches and professors in this field that have real experience and knowledge to share. A lot of learning comes from being hands-on, asking questions, and just getting experience working with athletes and around training environments. If you really care about fitness, performance, and helping people improve, it’s a really rewarding field to get into.