Pryde Athletics

Pryde Athletics was founded in 2014 by Ivan Ankwatsa MS. , a former collegiate strength and conditioning coach, with the vision of an injury prevention-driven approach to understanding athlete movement and development. Pryde Athletics is a performance facility that utilizes advanced sports science to assess and train youth, collegiate and professional athletes. We support and advise professional sports organizations with cutting-edge assessment, prescription and training services. elite athletes have benefited from Pryde Athletics and we have the data to prove it.

Ivan earned his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Easter Michigan University with a concentration in Strength and Conditioning and Special Populations. He finished his master’s degree with honors from Eastern Kentucky University in Exercise and Sports Sciences. Ivan’s

graduate research included Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury Prevention and the Success vs. Failure Rates of Different Types of Knee Reconstructions (Cadaver, Patellar, or Hamstring Tendon Grafts). He also holds a certification with the United States Weight Lifting Association as a

Level 1 Sports Performance Coach.

While at Eastern Kentucky, Ivan was the University Director of Basketball

Strength and Conditioning from 2011-2013. As an undergrad, he was a

volunteer assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of

Michigan. He worked with the U of M men’s football and soccer teams.

Ivan also worked at the University of Michigan Hospital as a nurse aide on the adult Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit. He assisted patients with many different diagnoses, such as traumatic head injuries, amputates and para/quadriplegics. Although a large population of the patients had traumatic physical deficits, Ivan noticed a percentage of the residents who were in the rehabilitation setting because of preventable illnesses. Ivan also has experience as a local high school soccer and AAU basketball coach. He is very passionate about preventive medicine, especially in the realm of adult & childhood obesity and diabetes. Ivan’s mission is to fightand lower obesity rates in the state of Michigan.