BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae College Director of Athletics and Club Sports
Ed Winters announced the hiring of
Chris DeSanto, 2014 Lees-McRae graduate, as the Director of Sports Performance.
"Chris brings a tremendous combination of experience, expertise, and, most importantly, a deep connection to Lees-McRae," said Winters. "His passion for sports performance and his commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the field make him an outstanding addition to our department. Having a former Bobcat return home to lead our Sports Performance program is exciting, and I am confident Chris will build upon the strong foundation we have in place while creating new opportunities for our student athletes to reach their full potential."
Desanto recently served as a Performance Coach for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer in Denver, Colorado and brings over 10 years of sports performance with him to Banner Elk.
"To say how excited I am for being back in the High Country would be a complete understatement," said DeSanto. "Anyone that has had the privilege to call Banner Elk home would echo how special of a community it is. One that has and forever will have a place in my heart. To be able to come back to Lees-McRae as the Director of Sports Performance is a dream come true and a career opportunity that I am looking forward to spearheading with everything I have. Given my background and experience, I am confident that we can build this department in a way that will provide our student-athletes with an experience that focuses on athletic development and personal growth."
Prior to Colorado Rapids, DeSanto was the Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee and oversaw the strength and conditioning operations for the Railsplitter men's soccer, women's soccer, softball, men's lacrosse, and women's lacrosse programs.
After Lees-McRae, DeSanto worked at Wake Forest University as a Sports Performance intern around Olympic Sports and served as a strength & conditioning intern at the University of Kentucky in 2016. He also served as a strength and conditioning coaching assistant at Webber International University in Babson Park, Florida and was elevated to Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach from 2017 to 2019.
DeSanto received his Bachelor of Science in Sports Administration with a minor in Sports Science in 2014. DeSanto has certifications in Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) and NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
"I would like to take a moment to thank President King,
Ed Winters, and the rest of the hiring committee for trusting me and believing in my vision for what our Sports Performance Department can and should be," said DeSanto. "It's great to be home and Go Bobcats!"
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
