Darrian Stickney returns to his alma mater in January 2026 to serve as the Director of Sports Performance.
Stickney returns to Durango after serving as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Briar Cliff University, where he oversaw sports performance programming for all 16 varsity programs. His responsibilities included program design and implementation, performance analytics, budget oversight, and fundraising to enhance facilities and the student-athlete experience.
Prior to his time at Briar Cliff, Stickney worked as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Chadron State College and as a Football Sports Performance Intern at Arizona State University, where he supported Power Five football performance operations. Early in his career, he also served Fort Lewis College as Running Backs Coach and Strength and Conditioning Coach.
A Fort Lewis College graduate, Stickney earned his Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science before completing a Master of Science in Sports Management at Chadron State College. He holds his SCCC certification, First Aid/CPR credentials, and is pursuing advanced certifications in speed development and Olympic weightlifting.
As Director of Sports Performance, Stickney will lead all strength and conditioning operations across Fort Lewis College Athletics, with a focus on performance optimization, injury reduction, and sustaining a high-performance culture across all programs.
