PEMBROKE – UNC Pembroke athletics director Dick Christy announced Tuesday that former student-athlete Josh Gooding, a standout defensive lineman for the Braves from 2010-13, has joined the department as its Assistant Athletics Director for Athletic Performance and will lead the strength & conditioning and nutrition programs for the Braves.
 
 "We are so excited to bring Josh back to the Braves family," Christy said. "Every interaction I have seen with him and other student-athletes and coaches has been a positive one that motivates our athletes to be better in strength and nutrition."
 
Gooding has served in a pair of roles in the private sector over the last 17 months, first as the assistant general manager of Planet Fitness in Mooresville, and then as the fitness director at The Fitness Equation. He served a dual role as a personal trainer at both establishments, but took on a host of administrative roles, including staff management and quality control.
 
Prior to his stints in Mooresville, Gooding was a part of the athletic performance staff with the Braves while earning his graduate degree in Pembroke. As a graduate assistant coach from 2014-16, he worked directly with the cross country/track & field and golf programs, while also assisting with UNCP's other varsity programs. He was promoted to assistant director of athletic performance in 2017 and was directly responsible for the year-round development of the football, baseball, wrestling and women's basketball teams.
 
The former defensive tackle played in 37 games for the Black & Gold from 2010-13 and logged 89 tackles (49 solo), including 14 tackles for loss (7-1/2 sacks). He helped lead the Braves to 28 victories over his collegiate career, including a 9-2 campaign as a senior that ultimately culminated in the program's second trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
 
Gooding earned bachelor's degrees in both sports management and exercise & sports science from UNCP in 2013, and completed his master's degree in sports administration in 2017. He married the former Elisabeth Christen in May 2018.