Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sports Performance - Bios
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Professional Bios
Blair Wagner is entering his fourth year at Eastern Michigan University, and the third as the head sports performance coach.
An assistant strength and conditioning coach at The Citadel from 2007-10, the 29-year-old Wagner worked directly with the basketball and wrestling programs, while assisting with the Bulldogs football and baseball teams. He was first appointed in December 2007 after spending the fall with the College of Charleston in a similar position. While with the Cougars, he was responsible for the men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming/diving and men’s and women’s track and field teams. In addition, he assisted with men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball.
In October 2007, Wagner had the privilege of assisting with the training of the NBA’s New York Knicks during their preseason camp.
Prior to arriving in Charleston, S.C., Wagner spent a short time as a volunteer strength coach at the University of Nebraska Kearney.
Wagner attended the University of Wyoming and obtained his bachelor’s degree in exercise science in kinesiology while working primarily with the UW Football and strength and conditioning programs.
He holds certifications from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, National Strength and Conditioning Association, USA Weightlifting, National Academy of Sports Medicine, and Precision Nutrition.
A native of Cheyenne, Wyo., Wagner completed his master’s degree in exercise science from The Citadel Graduate College in May 2010.
Slachetka joined EMU in July 2013 after spending the previous two years as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Virginia Commonwealth University.
The 30-year-old Slachetka joined VCU in 2010 and worked directly with the women’s basketball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, golf and cross country programs. Prior to joining the VCU staff, he was the graduate assistants strength and conditioning coach at Eastern Illinois University in 2009. Prior to that he spent from 2006-09 as the football sports performance intern at the University of Louisville.
Slachetka was a walk-on football offensive lineman at the University of Massachusetts after serving five years in the United States Marines including two tours of duty in Iraq. A native of Chicopee, Mass., he graduated from Chicopee Comprehensive in 2001 before enrolling in the Armed Forces in June of 2001. He completed his tour in June 2006.
Slachetka graduated from the UMass in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. He earned his master’s degree in sports management from Eastern Illinois University in 2012.