Melissa Schmitz began working as strength and conditioning coach for the women's soccer and softball teams in 2010.

Before joining the GSU staff, SChmitz worked at the University of Northern Iowa with the women's basketball and soccer teams. Additionally, she worked as a personal trainer at a Fitness Academy in Waterloo, Iowa and at XL sports to train athletes.

Schmitz was also a student-athlete at Northern Iowa, playing on a three-time MWC champion volleyball team that advanced to three NCAA tournaments. She earned her B.A. in 2007 and her master's in exercise science in 2009 from UNI.

She is a certified Strength and Conditioning specialist (CSCS), a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) members, has a USA Club Coach Certification and is a USA Weightlifiting member.