GOLDEN, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines Director of Athletics David Hansburg has announced Griffin Vander Waerdt as the next Director of Sports Performance. Vander Waerdt officially began his duties July 21.
 
Prior to arriving in Golden, Vander Waerdt was the Director of Football Strength and Conditioning at Arkansas Monticello. During his brief stint with the Boll Weevils starting in January, he oversaw all aspects of strength and conditioning programming and worked with the program's coaching staff to re-establish culture, standards and values.
 
A native of Parker, Colorado, Vander Waerdt spent the better part of four years as a member of the strength and conditioning staff at Colorado State University. After serving as an intern from May 2022 until April of 2023, Vander Waerdt was elevated to Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning for football where he remained until December of 2025. In that role he oversaw and managed team accountability standards and compliance. His area of focus centered on the development of body composition-specific programming.
 
A former student-athlete for the Rams, Vander Waerdt competed for CSU for two seasons as a defensive back. After medically retiring, Vander Waerdt stepped into a new role with the Rams strength and conditioning staff at the request of then head football coach Jay Norvell. Under the guidance of Jordon_Simmons, Dan Hislop and Hope Nepstad, Vander Waerdt discovered a passion for sports performance and served as a conduit between the football program and strength and conditioning staff.
 
Vander Waerdt earned his Bachelor's degree in Health and Exercise Science with a focus in Health Promotion from CSU in 2024 before completing his Master's degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida in 2026. He is an NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist, Level 1 & 2 Running Mechanics Professional and CPR/AED certified through the American Red Cross.