About

Biography

Mark completed a PhD in Sport and Exercise Science in 2009, a three-year Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in 2012, and a three-year Senior Research Fellowship in 2015, before taking up his current role. Mark has 30+ years of experience in various sports, including Sprint Kayak, Tennis, Swimming and Netball.

Mark is the Director of High-Performance Sport at UniSC, overseeing HP Sports programs and the Physical Performance Coaches working within them. Mark has worked with UniSC's High-Performance swimming program since its inception in 2011 and has more than two decades of experience working with elite swimmers.

Mark is an Associate Professor and supervises several postgraduate students, and is an active researcher in High-Performance Sport.

Research Focus

  • Swimming – warmup, training load, performance monitoring, shoulder function, injury prevention

Accreditations

  • Master Coach ASCA Professional Coaching Accreditation Scheme (ASCA-ML3)
  • Australian Strength & Conditioning Association Level 3 Coach
  • ESSA Accredited Sport Scientist Level 2 (ASpS2)
  • ESSA Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP)
  • ESSA Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES)
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association America Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association America Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach Emeritus (RSCC*E)

Physical Performance at USC

  • 2021-present: Senior strength and conditioning coach, Queensland Academy of Sport, Sunshine Coast Swimming Hub
  • 2019-present: Campaign lead, strength and conditioning coach, Australian Para Swimming Team
  • 2011-2021: Lead physical performance coach for the UniSC Spartans High-Performance Swimming Program
  • 2016-2021: Strength and conditioning coach for the Sunshine Coast Lightning Netball Team

Link

Awards and Honours

Highest HERDC Points 2013 - FoSHEE Academy - Research Intensive USC
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC, July 2014
Most Research Publications 2013 - FoSHEE Academy - Research Intensive USC
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC, July 2014
Best Early Career Researcher Presentation - USC Research Week
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC, July 2013
Australian Fitness Network Author of the year
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC, April 2016
ASCA Bruce Walsh Memorial Award
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC, Nov 2016
ASCA Life Membership
University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast) - UniSC, Nov 2018

Organisational Affiliations

Leader, Physical Performance in High Performance Sport, School of Health - High Performance Sport

Director of High-Performance Sport, School of Health

Senior S&C Coach, Queensland Academy of Sport

Campaign Lead S&C Coach Paralympic Program, Swimming Australia

Education

Diploma of Teaching
1983–1985, Brisbane College of Advanced Education
PhD Sport & Exercise Science
1998–2009, University Sunshine Coast

Thesis title - "Postural Movement – Quantifying Timing of Joint Coordination, Structural Muscle Balance, and Joint Range of Motion".

Diploma of Management
2015–2015
Certificate IV in Training & Assessment
2018–2018
Diploma of Training Design & Development
2019–2019
Diploma of Sport (Coaching)
2024–2025