Chris Winter began his career as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach in the spring of 2010. 

In his two years at Western, Winter has worked directly with football, men’s basketball, baseball, track and field, men’s soccer, softball and cross country. In the spring of 2011, He severed as Interim head strength and conditioning coach at WIU overseeing the entire department. This fall he will take full responsibility of men’s basketball as well as continue to oversee baseball, men’s soccer, track and field throwers and assist with football. 

Prior to Western Illinois, Winter was the interim strength and conditioning coordinator and linebacker coach at Division III Eureka College (Eureka, IL) and was also a member of the Red Devil football team in 2008. Winter was the strength and conditioning coach for football and baseball, while also serving as a football assistant at East Peoria Community High School from 2006-2009 resulting in two consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in 21 years. During his time at EPCHS and Eureka College Winter was a speaker at several Illinois High School Football Clinics on the topic of strength and conditioning for high school athletes. From 2007-2011, he was additionally employed at Eastside Centre as a private sports performance coach specializing in strength and speed development for high school and college athletes.  

Winter is a graduate of Bradley University (07’) where he earned a bachlor's degree in political science and administration of criminal justice. He then continued his education at Eureka College (08’-09’) where he studied exercise science and fitness leadership. He served as an intern at the United States Supreme Court in Washington, DC in the spring of 2006. Winter is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and is a United States Weightlifting Association level one certified. 

Chris’ family resides in East Peoria, Illinois, and is engaged to marry former leatherneck softball player Rachel Sinks on July 28, 2012.