Inside Athletics

Allison Papenfuss was hired to for the role of Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Performance at Santa Clara in January of 2022. She is in charge of men’s basketball and men’s tennis while overseeing other teams in the department.

Papenfuss joins the Broncos from her alma mater Bowling Green State University where she worked with all 18 sports in some capacity, but was the head strength coach for the sports of men’s basketball, men’s soccer, women’s and men’s golf, swimming and diving, track and field, and tennis.

Papenfuss returned to BGSU after spending three years as an athletic performance coach at Indiana University. While with the Hoosiers, she was in charge of softball, water polo, and women’s golf while assisting with women’s basketball.

After graduating with her Master’s degree from BGSU, she joined the strength staff at Frostburg State University where she was an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. Papenfuss structured programs for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, while assisting with the football team’s programs.

Papenfuss was a four year member of the BGSU women's basketball program, and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Applied Health Science degree. She  has earned a Master’s of Public Health Administration from BGSU/University of Toledo and a Master’s of Business Administration from BGSU.

On the court, she helped BGSU to an overall record of 103-30 and a MAC regular-season mark of 52-12 during her career, an average of 25.75 overall wins and 13 conference victories per season. The Falcons advanced to national postseason play in each of her four seasons, including two trips to the NCAA Championships and two appearances in the WNIT.

BGSU won three MAC East Division titles, two outright conference regular-season championships and two MAC Tournament crowns during the four years that Papenfuss was on the roster.

Papenfuss worked as an intern in BGSU's weight room during both her undergraduate and graduate careers, assisting with all 18 varsity sports the University offers.

She is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association.