Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Director of Performance & Nutrition
Sports: WBB
- Email:
- nilson@gonzaga.edu
- Phone:
- 509-313-4099
Mike Nilson is a licensed sports nutritionist, certified strength & conditioning specialist, and leadership coach for Gonzaga Women’s Basketball. He’s been the Director of Performance & Nutrition for the Gonzaga Athletic Department since 2004. Â
Before joining the athletic department, Mike played basketball for Gonzaga’s Elite 8 and Sweet 16 teams, earning WCC Defensive Player of the Year and All-Academic Team honors. He finished his basketball career by playing professionally in Germany for two seasons.Â
Mike holds multiple sports nutrition certifications, including a level 1 license through the National Association of Sports Nutrition and a Level 2 coaching certification through Precision Nutrition. He works with his athletes daily in the weight room, helping them improve the way they fuel their bodies on & off the court. Â
In addition to being a CSCS strength coach through the National Strength & Conditioning Association, Mike is a Fellow of Applied Functional Science through the Gray Institute. After completing the 40-week mentorship program, Mike became a facilitator for GIFT, working with physical therapists, strength coaches, athletic trainers, and other movement professionals from around the world. Â
While Mike loves coaching sports nutrition and basketball strength & conditioning, his most impactful work has been developing and implementing an 18-week leadership program with the Gonzaga Women’s Basketball staff. He holds a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with a certificate in Servant Leadership and has given leadership talks all over the West Coast and Canada.Â
Mike is a founding partner at U-District Physical Therapy, which specializes in functional physical therapy, mental health counseling and sports psychology. In 2007, he helped found the U-District Foundation, which is a non-profit that helps promote health & wellness in our youth. The U-District Foundation hosts Fitness & Fun Camps, Fun Funs, Family Challenges, and Mentorship Programs that are free to all kids in the Spokane community. Â
In 2019, Mike launched HoopCommitment.com to share his passion for basketball nutrition, training, and leadership. The Hoop Commitment Podcast is a free resource for coaches, parents, and basketball players to help them improve the way they eat, train and lead.Â
