Anthony "TJ" Belanger, who joined the Yale strength and conditioning staff in 2017, was promoted to Director of Sports Performance & Student-Athlete Innovation in April of 2021.
During his tenure at Yale, Belanger has served as the head strength coach for women's basketball, baseball, field hockey, women's golf, co-ed and women's sailing and men's and women's fencing. He also was the assistant strength coach for football.
Belanger has played a key role in building and expanding Yale's nationally accredited internship program, which has attracted students from all over the world. In addition, for the last two years, he has been responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the weight room, including setting the schedule for more than 850 student athletes and supervision of the staff.
In addition to his work at Yale, Belanger is a registered ICU nurse at Waterbury Hospital and assisted patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also has been an adjunct professor at Southern Connecticut State University, teaching basic concepts of strength and conditioning and preparing students to earn their CSCS certification.
Belanger attended Western Connecticut State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2011 with a BS in nursing. He earned a master's degree in human performance from Southern Connecticut in 2016.
