Episode #028: Tony Bixler

Tony Bixler is the Director of Strength, Conditioning, and Sports Performance at Newberry College. Bixler directly leads the sports performance training for the Wolves football, softball, women’s soccer, baseball (pitchers), and wrestling teams after being promoted to department director in summer of 2020. Additionally, he oversees 22 teams with a staff of three assistant strength coaches. Prior to his current position, he was the Head Performance Coach for the national men’s rifle team with the Chinese Olympic committee in Beijing, China. Bixler was also a strength and conditioning coach and owner of Bixler Fitness for 8 years, in addition to simultaneously serving as a football coach and strength coach at multiple different high schools in South Carolina including Heathwood Hall, Episcopal School, Richland Northeast High School, AC Flora High School, and Westwood High School. He also spent time as an intern coach at the University of South Carolina with women’s basketball. 

After undergrad, Bixler began his career as a deputy sheriff and criminal investigator before shifting gears and finding himself in the coaching profession. He is an avid lifter himself and is currently competing in Olympic weightlifting in the Master’s division as part of the Palmetto Weightlifting team.