A longtime NBA and NCAA Division I Strength and Conditioning Coach with more than 30 years of college and NBA experience, Bobby Medina is in his third year with the Washington Men's Basketball program after most recently serving in a similar role with the Nigeria Women’s Basketball National Olympic team as the Director for Sports Performance and Basketball Operations.
Medina got his start with the UNLV Men's and Women’s Basketball and teams while the Rebels were one of the dominant programs in college basketball. While Medina was the Strength and Conditioning Coach from 1985 to 1992, UNLV Men’s Basketball won six conference championships, made three Final Four appearances and won the 1990 NCAA National Championship and UNLV Women’s Basketball won 2 Big West Conference championships, had 5 NCAA Tournament appearances and 1 Sweet 16 appearance. Medina graduated from UNLV in 1988 with a bachelors of science in Athletic Training.
From UNLV Medina made the jump to the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics. During five seasons in Seattle, Medina helped the Sonics to three Pacific Division titles, two Western Conference Finals appearances and one trip to the NBA Finals. He was also a part of three NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs.
In 1997, Medina was hired by the Portland Trailblazers as the Strength and Conditioning Coach. While in Portland, Medina developed a comprehensive program as he managed custom in-season and off-season strength and conditioning programs, worked individually with players to achieve goals and worked with the medical staff to prevent injuries. During his tenure with the Portland Trailblazers, he oversaw the Sports Performance program for the WNBA Portland Fire. In 16 seasons with Portland, Medina helped the Trailblazers to three Pacific Division titles two West Conference Finals appearances.
Medina was instrumental in designing strength training facilities with the Supersonics and Trailblazers during his tenure with both teams.
During the NBA offseason, he assisted with the NBA Pre Draft Combine testing and led the Sports Performance for his teams each NBA Summer League for over 20 years. He has been and is currently the Director of Sports Performance for the NBA Player Development Camp in Las Vegas led by Coach Tim Grgurich each summer in which over 100 NBA players and 50 NBA coaches, scouts and general managers attend.
Medina returned to the college game in 2013 when he was hired as the Men's Basketball Strength and Conditioning Coach at BYU. He brought many of the same programs he implemented in the NBA in Seattle and Portland to BYU, including creating custom workouts to help players achieve their goals year round and teaching basketball fitness to youth in the community through camps. In 3 seasons with BYU, Medina helped the Cougars reach 2 WCC Tournament Championship games, 1 NIT Final Four and receive two bids to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. In 2017, he accepted the position as Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance at Santa Clara University. After 2 years, he was promoted to Associate Athletic Director for Sports Performance. He designed and outfitted the new state of the art AEC Strength and Conditioning Training Center at Santa Clara University. He was in charge of all Sports Performance Coaches at Santa Clara and his primary sport responsibilities were Men's and Women’s Basketball.
In October of 2020, he was invited to join the coaching staff for the Nigerian Women’s Basketball National Olympic team. He served as the Director of Sports Performance and Basketball Operations. He handled all team strength and conditioning programming and preparations for the 2021 Olympic Games as well as scheduling of team training camps, practice and game scheduling, player and staff weekly meetings, team budget and travel. He worked directly with the Head Coach and General Manager.
During his coaching career, he has worked directly with multiple Olympic athletes and several Hall of Fame and NBA All-Star players and coaches including, Brandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers), Detlef Schrempf (Seattle Supersonics), Gary Payton (Seattle Supersonics), Scottie Pippen (Portland Trailblazers), Arvydas Sabonis (Portland Trailblazers), Hersey Hawkins (Seattle Supersonics), Larry Johnson (UNLV), Jerry Tarkanian (UNLV), Maurice Cheeks (Portland Trailblazers), Damian Lillard (Portland Trailblazers), LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trailblazers) and several others.
He is a member of the CSCCA and holds the distinction of Master Strength Coach. He holds certifications with the CSCCA, USA Weightlifting, CES, PES (NASM), Bigger, Faster, Stronger (BFS), Functional Movement Screening (FMS), National Association of Speed and Explosion (NASE), American Heart Association (CPR/AED).
He and his wife, LeeAnn have 4 children.
