James Steel enters his 10th year as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania in 2013.

Prior to taking the post, Steel had held the position of assistant strength and conditioning coordinator with the Quakers. Prior to Penn he had been a strength coach and football coach at Charleston Southern University (S.C.), Gardner-Webb University (N.C.) and Montgomery Community College (Md.). Steel was also the defensive coordinator and strength coach at Eau-Gallie High School in Florida.

Currently, he is an active competitor in the sport of powerlifting and is the American Powerlifting Association of New Jersey state record holder in the 275-pound class in the squat (820 lbs.), deadlift (740 lbs.) and total weight (2,065 lbs.).

Steel was also an All-American defensive linemen and team captain at Montgomery Community College and Gardner-Webb University.

Steel and his wife, Michelle — who was a four-year letterwinner for the Penn women’s basketball team (1995-98) — reside in Audubon, N.J., with their children, Donald and James.