Sports Physical Therapist Jobs in Kentucky

Location: Bowling Green, KY
Category: Staff
Job Type: Full-time
Posted On: Wed Jun 17 2026

Job Description:

Western Kentucky University, a member of Conference USA and a Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) NCAA member institution, seeks to hire an individual for the position of Assistant Director of Sports Nutrition for Football. This is a 12-month, full-time position. This position will report to the Chief of Football Staff and the Director of Football Strength and Conditioning. Applicants must have a commitment to and responsibility for adhering to all rules and regulations of WKU, Conference USA and the NCAA.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The following duties are customary for this position but are not to be construed as all-inclusive. Duties may be added, deleted, and assigned based on management discretion and institutional needs.

• Assesses and analyzes dietary practices, and energy balance (intake and expenditure) of athletes in the context of athletic performance and health.
• Counsels athletes on optimal nutrition for exercise training (match nutrition to training phases and goals), competition, recovery from exercise, weight management, hydration, immunity, travel, and supplementation.
• Counsels athletes on achieving and maintaining a level of body mass, and muscle mass that is consistent with good health and good performance.
• Provides personalized meal and snack plans to promote achieving short- and long-term goals for athletic performance and good health.
• Addresses nutritional challenges to performance, such as food allergies, bone mineral disturbances, gastrointestinal disturbances, iron depletion, and iron-deficiency anemia.
• Counsels athletes on optimal nutrition for recovery from illness or injury.
• Evaluates nutritional supplements, including herbal supplements, for legality, safety, quality, and efficacy; monitors use of appropriate supplementation.
• Develops resources to support educational efforts.
• Educates in food selection (grocery store tours, food storage) and food preparation (cooking classes).
• Develops and oversees nutrition policies and procedures.
• Coordinates nutrition for domestic and/or international travel, for example, catering, hotels, airlines, competition, for individuals and teams.
• Manages budgets for purchasing and distribution of nutritional supplements.
• Develops and delivers nutrition education presentations, demonstrations, or events on various topics related to nutrition for performance.

Knowledge and Skills Considered Essential for Success:

• Excellent communication, presentation, and counseling skills.
• Ability to accurately measure height, and body weight.
• Ability to accurately assess and evaluate energy balance.
• Comprehensive knowledge and application of medical nutrition therapy, including interviewing and education techniques.
• Self-motivation and ability to work independently.
• Excellent time management, organizational, and record-keeping skills.
• Knowledge of complementary medicine, ergogenic aids, and nutritional supplements, including herbal supplements.
• Competence with nutrient analysis, word processing, and presentation software.
• Compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
• Knowledge of food service quality and safety procedures.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree.
• D-1 college football experience.
• Registered Dietitian Certification/Licensure with active registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Additional Information:

Salary: $45,000

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, may contact the Office of Institutional Equity at 270-745-5121 for assistance. To report concerns related to WKU's Discrimination and Harassment Policy, No. 0.2040 and/or WKU's Sex and Gender-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy, No. 0.2070, please complete the Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Reporting Form. Additional information regarding Title IX, including contact information for the Title IX Coordinator and reporting options, is available on WKU's Title IX website.

Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: https://www.wku.edu/academics/

For information related to job postings, application status, or the hiring process, please email employment@wku.edu.