Upper Iowa University Athletics

Matt Vargas became the head strength and conditioning coach at Upper Iowa in March 2023. During the 2024 season, Vargas played a key role in the football program improving to 7-4 on the year, while going 6-2 in the GLVC. Vargas comes to Upper Iowa from the University of Arkansas, where he served as the strength and conditioning head intern for two seasons. In his two seasons with the Razorbacks, he was instrumental in the team's first bowl-game win in five years. 
 
While at Arkansas, he assisted in all aspects of off-season and in-season strength and conditioning for the football program and ran several stations that involved warm up, speed school, and position-specific drills.
 
Prior to joining the Razorback staff in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Vargas was the graduate assistant in strength and conditioning for a year at Chadron State College before being promoted to assistant coach for a year.
 
With Chadron State, Vargas was involved with all 11 of the Eagle sport programs and was the primary contact and director of strength and conditioning for women’s basketball and the cross country programs.
 
Vargas holds certifications in CSCCa SCCC, USA Weightlifting Level 1 and AED/CPR.
 
As a student-athlete at Chadron State, Vargas was a four-year member of the football team. He earned all-conference honors as a junior and senior, as well as academic all-conference honors in each of his four seasons. Vargas served as a team captain during his senior season.
 
Vargas graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in sports and recreation management and exercise science and a Master’s degree in organizational management from Chadron State.