SPEAKERS
Ethan Baldridge
Ethan Baldridge graduated Magna Cum Laude from the UCA with a Bachelorette of Science in Nutrition. He was named Outstanding Dietetic Student of the Year by the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics during his senior year. He was the first-ever and the only student from his graduating class to be pre-selected for the Master of Science / Dietetic Internship program at UCA.
Ethan began working with student athletes at UCA during the Fall 2021 semester. He has worked with student-athletes from every sport on the UCA campus. He has also worked with athletes who compete in sports outside of what his offered at UCA such as swimming and wrestling. As a high-school athlete Ethan threw discuss and shotput. He qualified for the state indoor and outdoor meet during this Junior and Senior year of high school. He was also on the Senior High basketball team. Ethan has competed in the “Mr. Arkansas” Bodybuilding Championships held in Little Rock, and in 2014 he placed 3rd in the men’s physique “Battle on the Bluff” bodybuilding show that was held in Tunica at Gold Strike Casino.
In the past Ethan has completed multiple training and certifications, the American Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguard Certification and the Advanced Cardiac Life Support training to name a couple. All past experience aside, he is on the board of directors and the current Incoming President-Elect for the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
CERTIFICATION: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration; and a Licensed Dietitian, licensed with the Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board.
EDUCATION: Received a Master of Science degree in Dietetics from UCA
YEARS ON STAFF: 4th year at Central Arkansas.
Elias Roelfsema
Elias Roelfsema is in his 5th year with the Bears strength and conditioning department, and his 3rd year heading up the Bears Men's Basketball team. He has been part of the program since fall of 2019, when he began as a graduate assistant.
In the past five years with Central Arkansas Elias has been a strength coach for: men’s and women’s basketball, track and field, women’s golf and men’s golf. During his time with track and field they had several all-conference performances. In 2021 the women’s golf team also achieved a 2nd place finish at the Southland Conference championship. At UCA Elias also has assisted with football, baseball, and men’s basketball.
From 2014-’18 Elias ran track and field for the University of Central Missouri where he was a multiple time all MIAA conference athlete, he also received his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Fitness Nutrition.
CERTIFICATION: Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified through the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association; Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association
EDUCATION: Received Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from UCA in 2020.
YEARS ON STAFF: 5th year at Central Arkansas.
Logan Olson-Sanders
Logan Olson-Sanders is in his 1st year with the Bears strength and conditioning department. Prior to UCA he worked at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi where he had been coaching since 2020. During his time in Texas, he led the Islanders Baseball and Softball teams in the weight room.
Prior to A&M-Corpus Christi, Sanders worked as the head personal trainer for four years. He also worked as a jiu jitsu and boxing coach at Corpus Christi Boxing Club.
CERTIFICATION: Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association
EDUCATION: Received Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from Texas A&M Corpus Christi in 2021.
YEARS ON STAFF: 1st year at Central Arkansas.
Alex Fotioo
Since joining the Bears staff, Fotioo has been the anchor of historic successes across the board for Central Arkansas. The Bears have won multiple conference titles while training with Fotioo and have qualified for a combined 15 NCAA Tournament appearances in football, baseball, softball, volleyball, women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, tennis and men's & women's cross country.
At UCA, Fotioo has mentored and trained: 4 NFL Draft selections in Tre'mon Smith, Jonathan Woodard, Dezmin Lewis, & Robert Rochell; 1 NFL All-Pro selection in undrafted free agent George Odum; 7 MLB Draft selections in Ty Tice, Hunter Strong, William Hancock, Tyler Gray, Cody Davenport, Gavin Stone, & Noah Cameron; 3 Symetra Tour Women's Golfers in Julia Roth, Brenda Gonzalez, & Fernanda Lira; 1 Italian League Professional Softball Player in Kylee Studioso; and 1 European Tour Golfer in Pep Angels.
Before coming back to UCA he served as an intern with the University of Tennessee Football Strength & Conditioning program under MSCC Dave Lawson and Michael Szerszen. Previous to his time at UT he was a Graduate Assistant at UCA working with the Strength & Conditioning program, and as a Quality Control coach for the Football team. Prior to UCA he was a student intern at the University of Southern Mississippi under MSCC Scott Bennett and Monte Curtis.
CERTIFICATION: Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified through the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association; Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association; Reflexive Performance Reset Certified; Certified Speed & Agility Coach
EDUCATION: Received Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from UCA in 2012.
YEARS ON STAFF: 11th year at Central Arkansas.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACHING HISTORY: Was an assistant at Central Arkansas for three years prior to being promoted to Director of Strength & Conditioning in 2016 ... served internships at Tennessee and Southern Miss before returning to Central Arkansas as a full-time member of the strength & conditioning staff.
FAMILY: Wife Megan & daughter Molly Claire