Chris Pike is entering his third season as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach for the Gannon acrobatics and tumbling program, and his 10th year overall involved with Gannon Athletics, in 2020-21.
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During the 2020 season, the Golden Knights set a new program record with their final score of 280.665 in their dual at No. 1 Baylor in early March, a mark that was also the fifth highest in the country on the season. Gannon also set a program record with its 29.70 in the toss event at No. 6 Hawaii Pacific, which was the highest score in the country in the event. The 2019 season saw Gannon reach the NCATA National Championships for the fourth consecutive season, and three individual heats finished top-three in the nation in the individual event finals.
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Pike spent two years as the athletics department’s strength and conditioning coach from 2016-18, serving all 21 varsity programs. During that two-year span, Gannon saw 36 teams compete in postseason competition and a total of 13 student-athletes earn 17 All-America honors.
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He came to Gannon as a member of the football program, spending five years as a Golden Knight and holding several key positions within the PSAC and NCAA. He also worked as the Gannon women's basketball strength coach before assuming the position for the entire department.
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A certified strength and conditioning specialist, Pike functioned in several administrative roles during a five-year span prior to becoming Gannon's strength and conditioning coach. In addition to being an NCAA Division II National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative, he served as the NCAA Division II National SAAC Chair and PSAC Western Division SAAC Chair until January 2017. Pike lead the Student-Athlete Voice initiative, as well as created the NCAA Division II "It's On Us" Video and NCAA Division II SAAC Network.
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Pike served as the Gannon SAAC President from 2013-15, before becoming the NCAA Division II National SAAC Vice Chair for one year in 2015. He spent five years with the Gannon football program, redshirting as a true freshman in 2011 before lettering four straight years (2012-15). Pike was named a PSAC Scholar-Athlete all five years. He completed over 1,500 hours of community service during his time as a student-athlete, participating in college and community events such as Make-A-Wish, L'Arche, Martin Luther King Junior Center, St. Baldrick's Foundation, Day of Caring and Second Harvest Food Bank.
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Doctor of Physical Therapy – Gannon (2019)
Master’s in Sport and Exercise Science – Gannon (2016)
Bachelor’s in Sport and Exercise Science – Gannon (2015)
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