Andrew Nakamoto joined the Highlanders staff in 2023 serving as the Assistant Director of Strength & Conditioning before being named the Director of Strength & Conditioning in 2024. Since becoming the Director of Strength & Conditioning, Nakamoto has worked to facilitate the growth of the Strength & Conditioning department by developing its sport’s science technology, creating a nutrition budget for student athletes and establishing an internship program.
Nakamoto’s main responsibilities include working directly with men’s basketball, men’s soccer, volleyball, track & field, cross-country, and men's and women's golf. He also assists with the remaining six varsity sports teams.
From 2021-2023, Nakamoto served as a graduate assistant with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. At SDSU, he worked directly with men's and women's swim & dive, cross-country, equestrian and assisted with football. While at SDSU, the Jacks saw their first National Championship FCS Title with football, posting a 14-1 season record and defeating the long-standing champion, North Dakota State 45-21. The Jackrabbit swim & dive program posted 12 records at the Summit League Conference meet that same year. Additionally, the men’s cross-country won the Summit League Title with seven runners placing in the top 10, taking first overall and the women’s team placing second overall in the league.
Prior to his time at SDSU, Nakamoto completed an internship with San Jose State University in 2021 working with football, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, track & field and men's and women's golf. During his time with the Spartans, the football team won the Mountain West Championship and 21 track & field athletes earned All-Mountain West honors.
In 2020, before COVID, Nakamoto interned with Santa Clara University and worked directly with men's cross-country/track & field and observed men's and women's basketball, men’s soccer, indoor and beach volleyball, women’s tennis and golf.
From 2018-2019 Nakamoto served as an intern with Dorin Performance Training (DPT) under Marcus Dorin, working with the Pleasant Valley High School football team. The Paradise, California native graduated from Chico State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology in 2019. In 2023, he graduated from South Dakota State with a Master’s degree in Nutrition & Exercise Science. He holds certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and USA Weightlifting (USAW).
